According to Japanese Economy and Trade Ministry officials, Japan plans to import Russian-processed uranium fuel from Kazakhstan via Siberian railways. The language of the announcement indicates the new transportation route is an effort to avoid piracy risks to Japanese maritime vessels. The ministry plans to begin using the land route by April 2011. While the Trans-Siberian Railroad does mitigate threats from piracy, it also allows Japan to avoid shipping via the South China Sea which China now claims as territorial waters. In the next few years, Japan may be expected take other actions to reduce its vulnerability to Chinese interdiction.

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