Tokyo would waste effort politicizing regional investment

[TaiShang]

Tokyo would waste effort politicizing regional investment
2015-5-21 0:18:02

Japanese media reported that the country is eyeing a $100 billion investment in infrastructure development in Asian countries over the next five years. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will announce this plan Thursday. Observers believe this move aims to rival China for influence. China recently initiated the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), which Japan has declined to join as a founding member.

Many Chinese analysts believe that if Japan adheres to standard investment rules and dedicates the funds to Asia's infrastructure development, it will benefit the entire region. But if Japan uses the investment as geopolitical leverage and resorts to malicious competition to oppose to the AIIB, this will lead to trouble.

The authorized capital for the AIIB is $100 billion, but it can bring about trillions of dollars investment projects through concessional loans and interest subsidies.

The Abe administration is competing with China with an almost paranoiac mentality. Abe's administration tries to create an illusion that Japan can stand in the way of China's rise, which will only consume Japan's resources.

China will not waste its efforts focusing its attention on competition with Japan. The China-led AIIB is neither targeted at Japan nor the US. It is a natural outcome of China's own development and the demand of Asian countries. Japan's purpose will be completely different if it uses such a large amount of money simply to compete with China.

Although Japan has experience in investment and assistance in Asia, it can get lost if it aims at the wrong target. There has been a large gap between the strength of China and Japan. If Japan uses its own strength to counter China's influence, it can never achieve its own goals.

According to surveys, the number of Japanese who dislike China far exceeds that of Chinese who don't like Japan. This is an abnormal situation, since China has never done anything that hurt Japan's interests, while Japan has been the initiator of conflicts with China since contemporary times.

Japan's right-wing forces have fouled up Japanese society. The country's China policy is based on distorted principles. Its way of dealing with relations with China has been affected by negative sentiments and detracts from its long-term interests.

The number of Chinese people traveling to Japan is increasing, showing Chinese society's broad mindedness. China is willing to improve ties with Japan, while Japan seeks dominance in Asia. But competition with Japan for Asian dominance is not something China cares about or focuses on.

 

[Aepsilons]

An excellent plan by the Japanese Government. Let us proceed with this ASEAN-Japanese development.

 

[Galad]

Paranoiac mentality-nicely fit Japan futile efforts.Wasting resources in something doom to fail from very beginning.Well of course Japan has absolutely no choice in matter.Everything done is by order of USA in futile attempt to counter China.Asian countries have already made their choice shown in last year summit and this year AIIB.

 

[Aepsilons]

Good luck to the massive economic machine that is Bulgaria. Auspicious luck unto thee !

 

[TaiShang]

Paranoiac mentality-nicely fit Japan futile efforts.Wasting resources in something doom to fail from very beginning.Well of course Japan has absolutely no choice in matter.Everything done is by order of USA in futile attempt to counter China.Asian countries have already made their choice shown in last year summit and this year AIIB.

Japan seems to choose to strip itself off the choices by inviting third parties to act on its behalf. Parties that have little to do with immediate East Asian affairs. That's the core of the problem. China should come to the understanding that Tokyo's affairs are to be dealt with in Washington, but not in Tokyo. Then, if Japan says they are uninterested to join the AIIB, the decision has mostly likely been taken somewhere else but in Tokyo.

The AIIB has little to offer Japan and the U.S. | The Japan Times

 

[grand]

Japan seems to choose to strip itself off the choices by inviting third parties to act on its behalf. Parties that have little to do with immediate East Asian affairs. That's the core of the problem. China should come to the understanding that Tokyo's affairs are to be dealt with in Washington, but not in Tokyo. Then, if Japan says they are uninterested to join the AIIB, then, the decision has mostly likely been taken somewhere else but in Tokyo.

The AIIB has little to offer Japan and the U.S. | The Japan Times

lol, well said. why should we pay attention and care about a weak puppet. i say let japan spend whatever they want to help asia connect with china to facilitate chinese trade, lol!