Japan’s Mekong Policy and Myanmar: Complementing a Viable Strategic Partnership

Abstract

Japan has maintained a close dialogue partnership with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) ever since 1977. When Japan and ASEAN held a special summit in Tokyo in 2003, celebrating the 30th anniversary, the relationship was elevated into a strategic partnership. It was the changing environment in Asia, especially the rise of China, that necessitated the reappraisal of regional structure and mode of interaction. Indeed, when China started its relations with ASEAN as a dialogue partner in 1996 and agreed to a free trade arrangement in 2001, the rise of China had become a reality as its mushrooming increase of trade with ASEAN amply shows. In fact, in terms of trade, China was catching up rapidly with Japan until 2008, and has become the largest economic partner of ASEAN since 2009. The so-called rise of China, however, bifurcated dominant arguments for economic benefits and security concerns, thus implying a dual edge for ASEAN. In further strengthening the relationship, Japan has come to refocus on the subregional strategy with special emphasis on the Mekong region, better known as mainland Southeast Asia. Given the importance of Japan’s subregional strategy, this chapter will consider recent trends in Japan-ASEAN relations and examine the impacts of Japan’s Mekong policy on East Asian international relations.