[War] Russia/Japan: "An Enticing Offer"

[Michael Downey]

"An Enticing Offer"
Ambassador Gushoev, Russian Federation
Prime Minister Sato, Japan
7 February 2014
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Good relations with Japan had always benefited the Russian President.
His hand in getting the formal Peace Treaty signed back during
Nemerenko's days in the Foreign Ministry had earned him status in the
Severov administration and the recent free trade treaty had benefited
the Russian economy. Not to mention the armed forces were happy with
the Japanese-made UAVs and robotic scout drones and benefiting from
Japan's newfound appetite for Russian missile equipment.

Indeed, they had found a useful friendship in the island nation. And
perhaps a bulwark against their mutual friend and foe, China?

Ambasador Gushoev considered all these things as his limousine weaved
through the heavy Tokyo traffic. There was no real thoughts of
courting Japan as an ally back in Moscow, but you could never have too
many friends. For the moment he had a specific item he wanted to speak
with Prime Minister Sato about.

He arrived exactly on time, as was expected in this country, for his
appointment with the PM. As this was not a formal visit his entourage
was limited simply to a driver and a bodyguard, both of whom Gushoev
left down on the lower levels of the building.

"The Prime Minister will see you know, Gushoev-san," said the
secretary. The Ambassador nodded.

As the Ambassador entered Sato rose from his desk and smiled. It was an
honest smile. Sato liked the Russians and he especially liked their oil which
flowed freely into Japan now thanks to the free trade agreement that his
predcessor had signed. The resulting effect on the price of oil in Japan was
one of the reasons the Japanese ecconomy enjoying an upturn in the last year.
The same upturn had provided Sato's Democratic Party of Japan with a majority
in the upper house last July. So when Sato greeted the Ambassador with a bow
and an offer of his afterwards, he was sincere in the warmth of his welcome.

"A drink Mr. Ambassador?" Sato offered as he moved to the sideboard while
his guest was seated.

"Yes, thank you," replied Gushoev. Russians liked their alcohol, even
in a formal setting. "President Nemerenko sends his regards and looks
forward to the coming conference with you and President Hong here in
Tokyo in the coming months. However I am here on a different matter.
As you are away, the Federation is attempting to reconcile Georgia
with it's breakaway province of Abkhazia and has asked for the
assistance of the European Union both in mediating talks and creating
a multinational peacekeeping force in the Abkhazia region. To that
end, the President has dispatched me to inquire about the Ground Self
Defence Force contributing a contingent of troops to this new PKF that
the EU has already agreed to."

Sato poured himself and the Ambassador a finger of his family's brand of
whiskey and then returned to the Ambassador and passed him one of the
glasses.

"Hmmm," Sato said as he rounded to his desk and sat down. "I must admit
Ambassador, that my knowledge of that situation is limited. What level
of risk does your government forsee to troops sent to the region?"

"Virtually none, the area is rather clam." That was a half truth.
There had been several border shooting incidents with the Georgians
over the years and even helicopters shot down; all done by Russia.
That was the whole reason the Federation was eager to have foreign
troops join their own peace keepers, to add legitimacy for the talks
in face of past Russian indiscretions. "We make this proposal because
we know the JGSDF has been looking to train itself in more exotic
environments."

The JGSDF had been training for most of the year with the Canadians
at considerable expense, however they were still complaining about
the amount of attention the JMSDF, Japan's navy, was getting by
taking part in the anti-piracy actions in the Straight of Malacca.
This mission would balance the scales.

"How many troops does your government have in mind?" Sato asked
sipping from his glass.

"Perhaps a full battalion?" suggested Gushoev. "I don't think you'd
need to send any heavy combat units such as armor, but perhaps light
infantry or mechanized units."

Sato had just the unit for this mission. After speaking with the Canadians,
the GSDF had begun developing a peacekeeping unit of mechanized infantry
for a Kosovo style mission. It had only just been granted operational status
but the troops were vetrans and eager to prove themselves.

"How long do you forsee this mission continuing?" he asked, at this point
Sato was almost sold on sending troops but he knew he would also have
to sell this mission to the cabinet and then the Diet, in order to get approval
of a foreign deployment. For that any information would be helpful.

"One year, at maximum," answered the Ambassador. "That's the longest
period of time we hope talks between both sides at the Hague will
take. Once a peaceful solution, for either independence or
reunification, occurs then Russia plans for a fairly rapid scaledown
and withdrawl."

It seemed like a perfect test of his country's new unit, Sato nodded. "As
I am sure you know I cannot make any promises, but, I feel confident that
if a resolution was put before the Diet on this matter, it would pass and
we could contribute one of our new peacekeeping battalions of mechanized
infantry to the efforts in Georgia."

"I am very happy to hear that, Mr. Prime Minister," said the
Ambassador. "And I am sure the European Union will as well."

Sato smiled. "Yes I hope so," he said. Things had not been
cordial with the eastern most portions of the EU after signing
the military technology agreement with Russia. He doubted
that taking part in a Russian led peacekeeping mission in
their neck of the woods would change that much but
he'd take what he could get.

"Well Mr. Ambassador," he said picking up his scotch and
raising it to the Ambassador. "To our futher cooperation."
---

Actions:
1) Japan will contribute one battalion of JGSDF mechanized troops to
the Russian-EU peacekeeping force on Abkhazia.