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JAPAN’S POLICY ON FORMING INTERNATIONAL HYDROGEN SUPPLY CHAINS IN THE ASIA-PACIFIC REGION

https://doi.org/10.48137/26870703_2026_35_3_6

Abstract

In the context of the global transition to a low-carbon development trajectory, hydrogen is becoming a key element of energy security and decarbonization of the economy. The article is devoted to the analysis of Japan’s policy on the formation of international hydrogen supply chains in the Asia-Pacific region. Japan’s limited domestic energy resources, heavy dependence on imports, and ambitious climate goals make cross-border hydrogen infrastructure a strategic priority for Tokyo. Japan considers the import of low-carbon hydrogen as a tool to ensure sustainable energy supply, diversify energy sources and strengthen technological leadership in promising industries.
The paper shows that Japan currently plays a leading role in developing and implementing international hydrogen projects. It is actively building bilateral and multilateral agreements with Asia-Pacific countries, establishing specialized terminals, testing transport and storage technologies, and introducing national standards and certification systems. Increased attention is being paid to institutional mechanisms, public-private partnerships, and financial support that allow Japanese corporations to initiate and coordinate regional initiatives. The study demonstrates that Japan’s policy goes beyond purely energy objectives, forming a sustainable model of technological and economic cooperation capable of shaping the architecture of the future hydrogen trading market in the Asia-Pacific region.
The potential remains within the framework of Russian-Japanese cooperation. Russia has significant resources for the production of low-carbon hydrogen, which, combined with Japanese technological and investment opportunities, creates objective conditions for launching joint pilot projects in the Russian Far East. Despite the difficult foreign policy environment, geographical proximity is a factor determining the long-term prospects for cooperation.

About the Author

K. A. Korneev
Institute of China and Contemporary Asia of the Russian Academy of Sciences
Russian Federation

Konstantin A. KORNEEV, PhD (History), Senior Researcher at Centre for Japanese Studies

32, Nakhimovsky Ave., Moscow, 117997 



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Review

For citations:


Korneev K.A. JAPAN’S POLICY ON FORMING INTERNATIONAL HYDROGEN SUPPLY CHAINS IN THE ASIA-PACIFIC REGION. Geoeconomics of Energetics. 2026;(3):6-22. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.48137/26870703_2026_35_3_6

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