JAPAN’S ALTERNATIVE PROJECTS FOR THE BELT AND ROAD INITIATIVE: COMPETITION OVER THE NEW SILK ROAD AND BEYOND

Year 2021, Volume: 5 Issue: 15, 129 - 142, 31.03.2021

Zülal Zengin

https://doi.org/10.31455/asya.801033

Abstract

This study attempts to analyze Japan’s alternative projects for the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Although Japan stated that it could join the BRI and provide some funding, it has not become a member, yet. This paper begins with examining how the BRI is presented by China and how it is perceived by Japan. Then it elaborates on why Japan holds a different opinion and needs to develop its own alternatives for the BRI. Japan’s alternative projects are examined in three parts. The first one is the Free and Open Indo-Pacific Vision, in which Japan plans to cooperate with India, ASEAN countries and the democratic countries in the Indo-Pacific region. The second one is the Asia-Africa Growth Corridor, a joint project by India and Japan, including the whole African continent, surpassing the scope of the BRI. And last of all is the Japan-EU Partnerships, which include economic, strategic and infrastructural cooperation. Japan’s alternative projects and partnerships all together cover and surpass the areas of the Belt and Road routes. It is important to note that Japan does not explicitly present these as an alternative to the BRI. Yet, having examined the relevant documents and maps of the projects, it is obvious that Japan has been developing alternatives for the BRI. What is most striking about all three of these projects is that Japan and its partners emphasize democracy, rule of law and human rights, the values that are not considered to be shared by China.

Keywords

Japan, China, Belt and Road Initiative, Indo-Pacific, Cooperation

JAPONYA’NIN KUŞAK VE YOL GİRİŞİMİNE ALTERNATİF PROJELERİ: YENİ İPEK YOLU VE ÖTESİNDE REKABET

Abstract

Bu çalışma Japonya’nın, Kuşak ve Yol Girişimi’ne (KYG) alternatif projelerini ele almayı amaçlamaktadır. Japonya KYG’ye üye olabileceğini ve fon sağlayabileceğini belirtmiş olmasına rağmen, henüz bu girişime üye olmamıştır. Bu çalışma ilk olarak KYG’nin Çin tarafından nasıl sunulduğunu tahlil etmekte ve girişimin Japonya tarafından nasıl algılandığını incelemektedir. Ardından, Japonya’nın neden farklı bir görüş içinde olduğunu ve KYG’ye niçin kendi alternatiflerini geliştirme ihtiyacı duyduğunu ele almaktadır. Japonya’nın alternatif projeleri üç kısımda incelenmektedir. Birinci kısımda, Japonya’nın Hindistan, ASEAN ve Hint-Pasifik bölgesindeki demokratik ülkelerle işbirliği yapmayı planladığı Özgür ve Açık Hint-Pasifik Vizyonu açıklanmaktadır. İkinci kısımda, Hindistan ve Japonya’nın ortak projesi olan, KYG’nin kapsamını aşarak bütün Afrika kıtasını kapsayan Asya-Afrika Büyüme Koridoru irdelenmektedir. Sonuncu olarak ise ekonomik, stratejik ve altyapı işbirliğini içeren Japonya-AB İşbirlikleri ele alınmaktadır. Japonya’nın alternatif projeleri ve ortaklıkları bir araya geldiğinde, Kuşak ve Yol rotalarını kapsayan alandan daha geniş olduğu göze çarpmaktadır. Japonya’nın bu projeleri açıkça KYG’ye alternatif olarak sunmadığını da ayrıca belirtmek gerekir. Ancak söz konusu projelerin ilgili belgeleri ve haritaları dikkatli bir biçimde incelendiğinde Japonya’nın KYG’ye alternatif geliştirmekte olduğu bariz olarak su yüzüne çıkmaktadır. Bu üç proje açısından en fazla dikkat çeken şey ise Japonya’nın ve ortaklarının demokrasi, hukukun üstünlüğü ve insan haklarına, yani Çin tarafından paylaşılmadığı düşünülen değerlere vurgu yapıyor olmalarıdır.  

Keywords

Japonya, Çin, Kuşak ve Yol Girişimi, Hint-Pasifik, İşbirliği

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