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

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.