Ten Years of Mekong-Japan Relations: From “Bi-Regional Relations’ to ‘Linked Regionalization”
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
It has been 10 years after the Japanese government officially initiated ‘Mekong-Japan Cooperation’ since 2009. The regional cooperation between the two regions develop progressively thus far particularly the economic aspect. The regional development objectives receive many projects from the Japanese and Southeast Asian government. Up until now, the cooperation is still developing through meetings between the two regions.
This article aims to revisit the Mekong-Japan relations since the establishment of the cooperation in 2009. The main questions of this article are: how has the cooperation developed after the initiation; and, what is the trend of the cooperation in the future? This article contends two issues. First, Japan endeavored to develop the Mekong area to be an economic prosperous area. It also attempted to decrease economic development disparity in the subregion so that it can develop its economy through the development of infrastructure. Second, in the future, the Japanese government will endeavor to link the region – or as this paper calls it as ‘linked regionalization’ – with South Asia and Africa for two reasons. It anticipates the economic linkages (e.g. markets and capital) and economic cooperation. Moreover, Japan also expects to play this leading role to support its regional leadership in order to balance the power of China in South and Southeast Asia.
Article Details
- เนื้อหาและข้อมูลที่ลงตีพิมพ์ในวารสารรัฐศาสตร์และรัฐประศาสนศาสตร์ถือเป็นข้อคิดเห็นและความรับผิดชอบของผู้เขียนบทความโดยตรง ซึ่งกองบรรณาธิการวารสารรัฐศาสตร์และรัฐประศาสนศาสตร์ ไม่จำเป็นต้องเห็นด้วย หรือร่วมรับผิดชอบใดๆ
- บทความและข้อมูล ที่ได้รับการตีพิมพ์ในวารสารรัฐศาสตร์และรัฐประศาสนศาสตร์ ถือเป็นลิขสิทธิ์ของวารสาร หากบุคคลหรือหน่วยงานใดต้องการนำข้อมูลไปใช้ประโยชน์ในทางวิชาการ ขอให้อ้างอิงแหล่งที่มาด้วย
References
นรุตม์ เจริญศรี. (2553). บทบาทของธนาคารเพื่อการพัฒนาแห่งเอเชียในโครงการพัฒนาความร่วมมือทางเศรษฐกิจในอนุภูมิภาคลุ่มแม่น้ำโขง. (วิทยานิพนธ์รัฐศาสตรมหาบัณฑิต), สาขาความสัมพันธ์ระหว่างประเทศ คณะรัฐศาสตร์ จุฬาลงกรณ์มหาวิทยาลัย.
นรุตม์ เจริญศรี. (2559). ประชาคมเอเชียตะวันออกภายใต้ ERIA: บทบาทของญี่ปุ่นต่อคลังสมองกับการพัฒนาประชาคมเอเชียตะวันออก. International Journal of East Asian Studies, 20(1), 67-98.
นรุตม์ เจริญศรี. (2561). ภูมิภาคสาธารณูปโภคพัฒนาวิเทศคดี: บทบาทญี่ปุ่นกับการพัฒนาระบบการขนส่งระหว่างประเทศและผลต่อภูมิภาคนิยมในเอเชียตะวันออกเฉียงใต้. เชียงใหม่: ศูนย์ศึกษาอนุภูมิภาคลุ่มแม่น้ำโขง คณะรัฐศาสตร์และรัฐประศาสนศาสตร์ มหาวิทยาลัยเชียงใหม่.
ADB. (2017). ADB, India Sign $317 Million Assistance for First Phase of East Coase Economic Corridor. Retrieved December 16, 2018, from www.adb.org/news/adb-india-sign-375-million-assistance-first-phase-east-coast-economic-corridor
African Development Bank Meeting (2017). Asia-Africa Growth Corridor: Partnership for Sustainable and Innovative Development: A Vision Document. Retrieved February 23, 2018, from www.eria.org/Asia-Africa-Growth-Corridor-Document.pdf
Arase, D. (1994). Public-Private Sector Interest Coordination in Japan’s ODA. Pacific Affairs, 67(2), 171-199.
Arase, D. (1995). Buying Power: The Political Economy of Japan’s Foreign Aid. London: Lynne Rienner Publisher.
Asia News Monitor. (2010). Japan’s Foreign Ministry Seeks ODA Charter Revision.
Asian Nikkei Review. (2018a). Japan Shifts Focus of Its Development Assistance to Indo-Pacific. Retrieved October 7, 2018, from https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/Japan-shifts-focus-of-its-development-assistance-to-Indo-Pacific.
Asian Nikkei Review. (2018b). ASEAN Crafts Position on US ‘Free and Open Indo-Pacific’ Strategy. Retrieved October 7, 2018, from https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-Relations/ASEAN-crafts-position-on-US-Free-and-Open-Indo-Pacific-strategy.
Blechinger, V., & Legewie, J. (2000). Action and Reaction, Direct and Indirect Leadership: Re-Evaluating Japan’s Role in Asian Regional Cooperation. In Blechinger, V., & Legewie, J. (Eds.). Facing Asia – Japan’s Role in the Political Economic Dynamic of Regional Cooperation. (pp. 297-324). München: Iudicium-Verl.
Calder, K. (2000). Will Japan Play a Leadership Role in East Asian Regional Political and Economic Integration?. In Blechinger, V., & Legewie, J. (Eds.). Facing Asia – Japan’s Role in the Political Economic Dynamic of Regional Cooperation. (pp. 11-20). München: Iudicium-Verl.
Cheow, E. T. C. (2003). Japan’s Twin Challenges: Dealing with an ASEAN at the Crossroads and East Asian Regionalism. Asia-Pacific Review, 10(1), 30-43.
Chheang, V. (2017). The Mekong Region: From a Divided to a Connected Region. Phnom Penh: Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Cambodia.
Chheang, V. (2018). Mekong-Japan Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific Strategy. Retrieved October 7, 2018, from www.khmertimeskh.com/50116006/mekong-japan-cooperation-in-the-indo-pacific-strategy/
Chhengpor, A. (2018). Japan Links Mekong and ASEAN to Indo-Pacific Strategy. Retrieved October 7, 2018, from www.voacambodia.com/a/japan-links-mekong-and-asean-to-indo-pacific-strategy/4312857.html
Chomsky, N. (2008). The Essential Chomsky. A. Arnove (Ed.). London: The Bodley Head.
Chongkittavorn, K. (2018). ASEAN is Key to Indo-Pacific: Modi. Retrieved October 7, 2018, from www.mmtimes.com/news/asean-key-indo-pacific-modi.html
Dadabaev, T. (2018). “Silk Road” as Foreign Policy Discourse: The Construction of Chinese, Japanese and Korean Engagement Strategies in Central Asia. Journal of Eurasian Studies, 9(1), 30-41.
Dauvergne, P. (2001). The Rise of an Environmental Superpower?: Evaluating Japanese Environmental Aid to Southeast Asia. In Maswood, S. J. (Ed.). Japan and East Asian Regionalism. (pp. 51-67). London: Routledge.
Dent, C. M. (2008). What Region to Lead? Development in East Asian Regionalism and Questions of Regional Leadership. In Dent, C. M. (Ed.). China, Japan and Regional Leadership in East Asia, (pp. 1-36). Cheltenham: Edward Elgar.
Ensign, M. (19921). Doing Good or Doing Well: Japan’s Foreign Aid Program. New York: Columbia University Press.
Flemes, D. & Nolte, D. (2010). Introduction. In Flemes, D. (Ed.). Regional Leadership in the Global System: Ideas, Interests and Strategies of Regional Powers. (pp. 1-14). Farnham: Ashgate.
Fujisaki, T., Briscoe, F., Mazwell, J., Kishi, M., & Suzuki, T. (1996). Japan as Top Donor: The Challenge of Implementing Software Aid Policy. Pacific Affairs, 69(4), 519-539.
Fukushima, A. (2000). ODA as a Japanese Foreign Policy Tool. In Inoguchi, T., & Jain, P. (Eds.). Japanese Foreign Policy Today. (pp. 152-174). New York: Palgrave.
Fukushima, A. (2011). Modern Japan and the Quest for Attractive Power. In Lee, S. J., & Melissen, J. (Eds.). Public Diplomacy and Soft Power in East Asia. (pp. 65-89). New York: Palgrave Macmillan.
Funabashi, Y. (1991). Japan and the New World Order. Foreign Affairs, 70(5), 58-74.
Furuoka, F. (2018). Japan in Putting Quality Over Quantity in the Mekong. Retrieved October 7, 2018, from www.eastasiaforum.org/2018/09/27/japan-is-putting-quality-over-quantity-in-the-mekong/
García, I. J. M. (2016). Japanese Capital Internationalization and Its Regional Leadership in Southeast Asia. Revista de Economía Mandial, 42, 109-128.
Gilson, J., Hughes, C., Dobson, H., & Hook, G. D. (2002). Japan and the East Asian Financial Crisis: Patterns, Motivations and Institutionalisation of Japanese Regional Economic Diplomacy. European Journal of East Asian Studies, 1(2), 177-197.
GMS Business Networks. (2017). Mekong-ROK Business Forum 2017. Retrieved December, 25, 2018, from www.gmsbiznetworks.com/events/mekong-rok-business-forum-2017/
Hatakeyama, K. (2008). Japan’s Aid to Vietnam: Becoming an Intellectual Leader. Japanese Studies, 28(3), 345-364.
Hatch, W. F. (2010). Asia's Flying Geese: How Regionalization Shapes Japan. Ithaca: Cornell University Press.
Hatch, W., & Yamamura, K. (1996). Asia in Japan's Embrace: Building a Regional Production Alliance. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Hirata, K. (1998). New Challenges to Japan’s Aid: An Analysis of Aid Policy-Making. Pacific Affairs, 71(3), 311-334.
Hoa, T. V., & Limskul, K. (2017). Japan’s ODA in Globally Integrated CLMV Economies: Aid Effectiveness and Political Economy. Korea and the World Economy, 18(3), 299-327.
IMF. (2014). World Economic Outlook, October 2914: Legacies, Clouds, Uncertainties. Washington, DC: International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Inada, J. (1989). Japan’s Aid Diplomacy: Economic, Political or Strategic?. Millennium: Journal of International Studies, 18(3), 399-414.
International Cooperation Bureau. (2017). Priority Policy for Development Cooperation, FY 2017. Retrieved October, 7, 2018, from https://www.mofa.go.jp/files/000259285.pdf
Jain, P. (2005). Japan's Subnational Governments in International Affairs. Oxon: Routledge.
Jain, P. (2016). Japan’s Foreign Aid: Institutional Change and Shifting Policy Directions. In Kato, H., Page, J., & Shimomura, Y. (Eds.). Japan’s Development Assistance: Foreign Aid and the Post-2015 Agenda. (pp. 56-71). New York: Palgrave MacMillan.
Jordann, E. (2003). The Concept of Middle Power in International Relations: Distinguishing between Emerging and Traditional Middle Powers. Politikon, 30(1), 165-181.
Katada, S. N. (2002). Japan and Asian Monetary Regionalisation: Cultivating a New Regional Leadership after the Asian Financial Crisis. Geopolitics, 7(1), 82-112.
Kato, H. (2016). Japan’s ODA 1945-2014: Changes and Continuities in a Central Instrument in Japan’s Foreign Policy. In Kato, H., & Shimomura, Y. (Eds.). Japan’s Development Assistance: Foreign Aid and the Post-2015 Agenda. (pp. 1-18). New York: Palgrave Macmillan.
Katzenstein, P. J., & Rouse, M. (1993). Japan as a Regional Power in Asia. In Frankel, J. A., & Kahler, M. (Eds.). Regionalism and Rivalry: Japan and the United States in Pacific Asia. (pp. 217-248). Chicago: Chicago University Press.
Kawashima, Y. (2003). Japanese Foreign Policy at the Crossroads: Challenges and Options for the Twenty-First Century. Washington, D.C.: Brookings Institution Press.
Kim, Y. H. (2011). A Bureaucratic Politics Approach to Japan’s Official Development Aid Policy: Ministerial Motives and Their Reflections on the Foreign Aid Expenditures, 1960s-2000. Journal of International and Area Studies, 18(1), 19-48.
Kishida, F. (2014). ODA Policy Speech by H.E. Mr. Fumio Kishida, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, “An Evolving ODA: For the World’s Future and Japan’s Future”. Retrieved July 6, 2017, from www.mofa.go.jp/ic/ap_m/page3e_000169.html
Laatikainen, K. V. (2006). Pushing Soft Power: Middle Power Diplomacy at the UN. In Laatikaninen, K. V., & Smith, K. E. (Eds.). The European Union at the United Nations. (pp. 70-91). London: Palgrave Macmillan.
Lam, P. E. (Ed.). (2013). Japan’s Relations with Southeast Asia: The Fukuda Doctrine and Beyond. Oxon: Routledge.
Lee, J. (2018). Mekong-Korea Cooperation Spearheads Sustainable Development. Retrieved December, 25, 2018, from www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20181224000254
Lee, Y. K. (2012). Synthesis and Reformulation of Foreign Policy Change: Japan and East Asian Financial Regionalism. Review of International Studies, 38(4), 785-807.
Lincoln, E. (1993). Japan’s New Global Role. Washington DC: Brookings Institution.
Makishima, M., & Yokoyama, M. (2008). Japan’s ODA to Mekong River Basin Countries. Retrieved February 22, 2019, from www.ide.go.jp/library/English/Publish/Download/Brc/pdf/01_japansoda.pdf
Maswood, S. J. (1994). Japan and East Asian Regionalism. ASEAN Economic Bulletin, 11(1), 70-78.
Maswood, S. J. (2001a). Japanese Foreign Policy and Regionalism. In Maswood, S. J. (Ed.). Japan and East Asian Regionalism. (pp. 6-25). London: Routledge.
Maswood, S. J. (2001b). Japanese Domestic Politics and Asian Regionalism. In Maswood, S. J. (Ed.). Japan and East Asian Regionalism. (pp. 26-50). London: Routledge.
MEA. (2017). About Mekong-Ganga Cooperation (MGC). Retrieved December, 25, 2018, from https://mea.gov.in/aseanindia/about-mgc.htm
MEA. (2018). Joint Ministerial Statement for the 9th Mekong-Ganga Cooperation Ministerial Meeting in Singapore. Retrieved December, 25, 2018, from www.mea.gov.in/Speeches-Statements.htm?dtl/30237/Joint_Ministerial_Statement_for_the_9th_Mekong_Ganga_Cooperation_Ministerial_Meeting_in_Singapore
Mearsheimer, J. J. (2014). The Tragedy of Great Power Politics. (Updated Edition). New York: Norton.
Melissen, J. (2015). Introduction. In Melissen, J., & Sohn, Y. (Eds.). Understanding Public Diplomacy in East Asia: Middle Powers in a Troubled Region. (pp. 1-9). New York: Palgrave Macmillan.
Mihut, M. I., & Daniel, D. L. (2012). First Oil Shock Impact on the Japanese Economy. Procedia Economics and Finance, 3, 1042-1048.
Mission of Japan to ASEAN. (n.d.). A New Foreign Policy Strategy: “Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy”. Retrieved October 7, 2018, from www.asean.emb-japan.go.jp/files/000352880.pdf
Mitra, S., Hasan, R., Sharma, M., Jeong H. Y., Sharma, M., & Guha, A. (2016). Scaling New Heights: Vizag-Chennai Industrial Corridor India’s First Coastal Corridor. Manila: Asian Development Bank (ADB).
MOFA. (1992). Official Development Assistance (ODA). Retrieved July 4, 2017, from www.mofa.go.jp/policy/oda/summary/1999/ref1.html
MOFA. (2009). Tokyo Declaration of the First Meeting Between the Heads of the Governments of Japan and the Mekong Region Countries: Establishment of a New Partnership for the Common Flourishing Future. Retrieved November 10, 2018, from www.mofa.go.jp/region/asia-paci/mekong/summit0911/declaration.html
MOFA. (2014). Evaluation of Japan’s Assistance for the Mekong Region. Retrieved February 22, 2019, from www.mofa.go.jp/policy/oda/evaluation/FY2014/pdfs/mekong.pdf
MOFA. (2015). New Tokyo Strategy 2015 for Mekong-Japan Cooperation (MJC2015). Retrieved February 22, 2019, from www.mofa.go.jp/s_sa/sea1/page1e_000044.html
MOFA. (2017a). Diplomatic Bluebook: Chapter 2: Japan’s Foreign Policy that Takes a Panoramic Perspective of the World Map. Retrieved January 6, 2019, from www.mofa.go.jp/policy/other/bluebook/2017/html/chapter2/c020106.html
MOFA. (2017b). Diplomatic Bluebook: Chapter 2: Japan’s Foreign Policy that Takes a Panoramic Perspective of the World Map. Retrieved January 6, 2019, from www.mofa.go.jp/policy/other/bluebook/2017/html/chapter2/c020702.html#sf08
Moore, A. (2013). Constructing East Asia Technology, Ideology, and Empire in Japan’s Wartime Era, 1931-1945. Stanford: Stanford University Press.
Murashkin, N. (2018). Not-So-New Silk Roads: Japan’s Foreign Policies on Asian Connectivity Infrastructure under the Radar. Australian Journal of International Affairs, 72(5), 455-472.
Nolte, D. (2010). How to Compare Regional Power: Analytical Concepts and Research Topics. Review of International Studies, 36(4), 881-901.
Nye, J. (2008). The Power to Lead: Soft, Hard, and Smart. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Ohtsu, M., & Imanari, T. (2001). Inside Japanese Business: A Narrative History 1960-2000. London: An East Gate Book.
Østerud, O. (1992). Regional Great Powers. In Neumann, I. B. (Ed.). Regional Great Powers in International Politics. (pp. 1-15). Basingstoke: St. Martin’s Press
Panda, J. (2017). The Asia-Africa Growth Corridor: An India-Japan Arch in the Making. Focus Asia, No.21. Retrieved December 16, 2018, from https://isdp.eu/content/uploads/2017/08/2017-focus-asia-jagannath-panda.pdf
Park, J. (2012). Regional Leadership Dynamics and the Evolution of East Asian Regionalism. Pacific Focus, 27(2), 290-318.
Potter, D. M., & Belle, D. V. (2004). New Media Coverage Influence on Japan’s Foreign Aid Allocations. Japanese Journal of Political Science, 5(1), 113-135.
Pressello. A. (2014). The Fukuda Doctrine and Japan’s Role in Shaping Post-Vietnam War Southeast Asia. Japanese Studies, 34(1), 37-59.
Purrington, C. (1992). Tokyo’s Policy Responses During the Gulf War and the Impact of the “Iraqi Shock” on Japan. Pacific Affairs, 65(2), 161-181.
Rix, A. (1993). Japan's Foreign Aid Challenge: Policy Reform and Aid Leadership. London: Routledge.
Sawamura, N. (2004). Japan’s Philosophy of Self-Help Efforts in International Development Cooperation: Does It work in Africa?. Journal of International Cooperation in Education, 7(1), 27-40.
Sayuri, S. (2007). Global Governance, Japan and the International Monetary Fund. In Hook, G. D., & Dobson, H. (Eds.). Global Governance and Japan: The Institutional Architecture. (pp. 143-163). Oxon: Routledge.
Shiraishi, T., & Kojima, T. (Eds.). (2014). ASEAN-Japan Relations. Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies.
Söderberg, M. (2012). Introduction: Time to Look at Japanese Aid in Practice. In Söderberg, M. (Ed.). The Business of Japanese Foreign Aid: Five Case Studies from Asia. (pp. 1-30). London: Routledge.
Soikham, P. (2017). Interacting Cultural Diplomacy: A Study of Soft Power in India-Thailand Relations. In Ghosh, L. (Ed.). India-Thailand Cultural Interactions: Glimpses from the Past to Present. (pp. 181-204). Singapore: Springer.
Son, K. Y. (2014). Middle Powers and the Rise of China: ‘Identity Norms” of Dependency and Activism and the Outlook for Japan-South Korea Relations vis-à-vis the Great Powers. Japan Journal of Political Science, 15(1), 91-112.
St John, R. B. (2006). Revolution, Reform and Regionalism in Southeast Asia: Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. Oxon: Routledge.
Stubbs, R. (1991). Reluctant Leader, Expectant Followers: Japan and Southeast Asia. International Journal, 46(4), 649-667.
Sudo, S. (1988). The Road to Becoming a Regional Leader: Japanese Attempts in Southeast Asia, 1975-1980. Pacific Affairs, 61(1), 27-50.
Sudo, S. (2015). Japan’s ASEAN Policy: In Search of Proactive Multilateralism. Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies.
The Mainichi. (2018). Japan, Mekong Leaders to Adopt New Cooperation Strategy in Oct. Retrieved October 6, 2018, from https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20180929/p2g/00m/0dm/012000c
The Straits Times. (2018). Time for ASEAN to Drive the Indo-Pacific Process: Jakarta Post Writers. Retrieved February 24, 2019, from www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/time-for-asean-to-drive-the-indo-pacific-process-jakarta-post-writers
Trinidad, D. D. (2007). Japan’s ODA at the Crossroads: Disbursement Patterns of Japan’s Development Assistance to Southeast Asia. Asian Perspective, 31(2), 95-125.
UNI. (2016). 5th Int’l Buddhist Conclave in Sarnath, Bodygaya from Oct2-6. Retrieved December, 25, 2018, from www.uniindia.com/5th-int-l-buddhist-conclave-in-sarnath-bodhgaya-from-oct-2-6/india/news/640486.html
United States Embassy, Tokyo. Dispatch to the Department of State. (1952). Japan’s Participation in the Point IV Program. July 24, 1952. National Archives 834.00-TA/7-2452.
Wang, H., & French, E. (2013). Middle Range Powers in Global Governance. Third World Quarterly, 34(6), 985-999.
Watanabe, T. (2006). How Should Japanese ODA be Viewed?: The Importance of Support for Self-Help Efforts. Asia-Pacific Review, 13(2), 17-26.
Weatherbee, D. E. (1997). Cooperation and Conflict in the Mekong River Basin. Studies in Conflict & Terrorism, 20(2), 167-184.
Williams, W. A., McCormick, T., Gardner, L., & LaFeber, W. (Eds.). (1985). America in Vietnam: A Documentary History. New York: Anchor Books.
Yoshimatsu, H. (2017a). Japan’s Export of Infrastructure System: Pursuing Twin Goals Through Developmental Means. The Pacific Review, 30(4), 494-512.
Yoshimatsu, H. (2017b). Developmentalism and Economic Security in Japan’s Export of Infrastructure Systems. RCAPS Working Paper Series.
Yuzawa, T. (2007). Japan’s Security Policy and the ASEAN Regional Forum: The Search for Multilateral Security in the Asia-Pacific. London: Routledge.
Zen, F. (2018). Public-Private Partnership Development in Southeast Asia. ADB Economic Working Paper Series, No. 553. Manila: Asian Development Bank (ADB).
Zhou, X. (1991). Japan’s Official Development Assistance Program: Pressure to Expand. Asian Survey, 31(4), 341-350.