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acceptance of the proposal to allow Soviet patrol boats in waters 
near Hokkaido and off the Northeastern Honshu coast. However, this 
proposal was rejected on the grounds that the presence of those 
boats would facilitate the capture of Japanese fishermen for violation 
of Soviet territory. These fishery talks ended in a stalemate. No con- 
cessions by either side were made. However, both these discussions 
and the earlier summit meeting did result in one area of agreement: 
to continue negotiations on these problematic and crucial issues. 
THE POLITICAL DIMENSION 
Related political factors illustrate this interaction of Soviet national 
interest and oceans policy and its bearing upon the Soviet approach 
toward the fisheries issue. The realities of the situation tend to 
downplay the ideological differences between the Soviet Union and 
Japan and focus instead on the mutual economic interests. From 
another angle, Soviet fisheries activities, nevertheless, are subject to 
scrutiny by the less developed countries, whose cause the Soviet Union 
seeks to champion at the Law of the Sea Conference. 
While the primary importance of the fishing industry to both coun- 
tries cannot be denied, Japan is more vulnerable in view of Soviet 
control over its traditional fishing grounds and interference near its 
coastal waters. Here, the ideological differences surface in a different 
vein, as representatives of a private enterprise system encounter those 
of state socialism at the bargaining table. In the Soviet Union govern- 
mental control over the fishing industry simplifies the policy-making 
process and implementation. The Soviets thereby bargain from a posi- 
tion of strength in their discussions with the Japanese, who must 
coordinate diverse economic and political interests. 
In another frame of reference, the ideological struggle with the 
People’s Republic of China over control of the world communist 
movement adds further dimension to Soviet foreign policy. In this 
adversary relationship both sides attempt to weaken the other’s posi- 
tion through unfavorable interpretations of events. In the Soviet- 
Japanese fisheries dispute, Peking supports the Japanese protest 
against large-scale Soviet operations near its coastline and its claim 
to the northern fisheries. On both an ideological and a purely political 
level, China has replaced the United States as the key complicating 
factor in the development of Soviet-Japanese relations. 
The changing power configuration in Asia has influenced the 
development of Soviet-Japanese relations with respect to the interplay 
of Chinese and American interests. The atmosphere of detente as 
evidenced by the Sino-American rapprochement has altered the 
balance of power. This Sino-Soviet rivalry for power in Asia is one 
motive behind the development of Soviet-Japanese and Sino-Japanese 
relations. In this regard, the Soviet approach toward fishery relations 
with Japan assumes a political connotation. 
The triumph of communist forces in Indochina coupled with a sub- 
stantial decrease in the American presence has provided new ground 
for the Sino-Soviet competition. Yet, the emergence of Japan as a 
major global power has projected this nation into an influential posi- 
tion in Asia, which cannot be disregarded by the Soviets and the 
Chinese. Both the Scviet Union and China are seeking Japanese sup- 
