ISS recognizes that because security issues are global in scope, contributions from our international colleagues offer unparalleled opportunities to learn from their experiences. ISS is delighted to welcome thoughts from Professor Tatsuo Masuda, Adviser to the Chairman of Japan Petroleum exploration Co. and former President of Asian Pacific Energy Research Centre. In November 2008, Professor Masuda joined ISS for the Roundtable discussion, “Reducing U.S. Dependence on Foreign Oil: Lessons From Abroad.” As a panelist, Professor Masuda discussed polices and strategies Japan has implemented to reduce its dependence on imported energy. 

Drawing upon his distinguished work, Professor Masuda offered the following insights regarding a recent presentation on Sakhalin:

“It was a long established perception that East Asian countries are heavily dependent upon oil from the Middle East. They tried to diversify their oil supply sources without meaningful success. Japan is the second largest importer of crude oil, China the third, and Korea the fourth. To ease their thirst for oil, the largest supplier, the Middle East, formed an natural market with East Asia. This heavy reliance on one region was part of obsessions among energy policy makers in East Asia.

However, Russia emerged as new supplier to them since 2006, and the volume is increasing rather rapidly and steadily. Following crude oil, LNG started to be exported from Sakhalin, and pipeline gas exports are on the horizon. Interestingly, this new flow of energy from Russia is serving a catalyst of regional integration among Russian Far East, China, Korea and Japan, with some geopolitical implications."

We invite you to view Professor Masuda’s full presentation by clicking here.