Asian Competition Research Articles

Has Japan Failed? Examining the role of the BOJ in post-crisis Japan

Abstract: Over the last 3 decades, Japan has suffered from persistent economic malaise which are without precedent in economic history, and as interesting as the circumstances leading to the demise of Japan as a major economic power are, they are but secondary to the mystery of the constant failure of measures to alleviate the situation. The question that this paper will attempt to answer, with the aid of advanced econometric tools is why the expansionary monetary policy measures taken by the Bank of Japan genuinely failed to stimulate the Japanese economy? The hypothesis I would like to outline is that the Bank of Japan DID fail to ameliorate the economic situation in Japan, due to several shortcomings such as a constant misunderstanding of the economic climate, the sudden drop in effective demand due to the emergence of Asian competitors, and the flawed policy of continually supporting insolvent banks.

Manufacturing consensus: China’s strategic narratives and geoeconomic competition in Asia

China’s attempt to build geopolitical influence through economic instruments has become a critical facet of US-China competition. How can rising powers convince follower states to join alternative (geoeconomic) initiatives created and/or led by the rising powers, in the shadow of potential rebuke from the hegemon? This article theorizes how rising powers can use strategic narratives to ameliorate the follower states’ concerns of antagonizing the hegemon for aligning with alternative initiatives. We argue that rising powers can control the narrative through “two-front narration”: simultaneously telling the hegemon that they seek limited changes, while telling follower states that they do not have to worry about crossfire because the rising powers-hegemon relations are non-zero-sum. By sending the right messages to different audiences to induce motivated reasoning, rising powers can manufacture the appearance of consensus among multiple audiences to help follower states hedge, while blunting the formation of containment coalitions. We adopt a mixed-methods approach to substantiate our theory: (1) text analysis of China’s messaging about the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) from 2008 to 2016; (2) case study of the rhetorical action-reactions between China, the United States, and the follower states on the relationship between the TPP and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership; and (3) parallel case study of the rhetorical action-reactions between China, the United States, and the follower states on the relationship between the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and multilateral development banks such as the World Bank. Our analysis has implications for theories of strategic narratives in international politics and debates about geoeconomic competition/hedging in Asia.

South Korea's Medical Tourism Competitiveness and Future Strategy: Focused on Cancer Treatment: A Review.

Medical tourism is a leading industry of South Korea. Since the transition from the latest health pandemic to endemic, foreign patients have been on a rapid increase. The Korean government regards medical tourism as a major national industry and pursues medical, legal, and policy strategies with the goal of attracting 700,000 foreign patients by 2027. Examining objective data and statistics as well as academic articles, we investigated the strengths and advantages, which might persuade foreign medical tourists to visit South Korea by performing a comparative analysis with high-income or medically advanced countries among Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and other competing Asian countries. Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the world. Compared with other advanced countries and Asian competitors in cancer treatment, South Korea shows excellent result of major cancers treatments, accessibility to hospitals and medical professionals, and competitiveness in terms of surgery and treatment costs. South Korea has excellent competitiveness both in price and in cancer treatment with the outstanding results of cancer mortality rates and 5-year survival rates. The achievement of Korea's cancer treatments is due to accurate diagnosis with the advantage of PET-CT, 64-sllice CT, 3.0 TESLA MRI, etc., and the use of cutting-edge equipment, such as CyberKnife and Da Vince robotic surgery. Besides, the Korean central and local governments actively support for the promotion of Korea's medical tourism industry, such as issuance of visas for foreigners, the hospital certification system, and medical tourism convergence cluster project.

Cobalt recovery technologies from spent Li-ion batteries

Demand for Li-ion batteries (LIBs) ramped up lately (2018-2022). Electrical vehicle (EV) industry becomes mature and conventional vehicles featuring thermal combustion engines will be gradually replaced. The evolution of Li-ion cell technology allowed decreasing manufacturing costs. Technical innovations within the sector consist in substituting liquid electrolytes with solid state ones, improving driving range, enhanced safety and faster charging times. The European Union strategy regarding batteries is focused on creating a sustainable, competitive and innovative ecosystem for reducing greenhouse gases. The European market share in Li-ion batteries worldwide production is 3% (Asia leads with 85%). In order to prevent technological dependence on fierce Asian competition and to capitalize on the economic potential that this opportunity represents, The European Union launched the "European Battery Alliance" in October 2017, with a view to stimulating cooperation between the industries of the old continent and building Liion battery production gigafactories. In Romania there are initiatives in the development of this sector, with investments that have mobilized public and private capital. In June 2023, the Romanian-Belgian Romvolt project was launched in Galați city, a production and recycling facility of Li-ion batteries with a total capacity of 22 GW. The paper presents the research undertaken for the recovery of cathodic paste with high content of cobalt (Co) from spent LIBs, by ultrasonography in lactic acid solution (C3H6O3). The hydrometallurgical method uses a non-polluting organic (lactic) acid. The working technique, the results obtained and the investigations carried out on the recovered materials are presented (analysis of optical and electron microscopy, EDX, X-ray diffraction).

Sino–Japanese third-party market cooperation: asymmetries of economic diplomacy and politico-economic gaps

Abstract In the wake of the intensifying Sino–Japanese rivalry in Asia, a new third-party market cooperation (TPMC) framework emerged in late 2018. The new mechanism was inaugurated around the time of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's visit to Beijing, displaying new attempts at Sino–Japanese economic diplomacy. Nonetheless, this article highlights the absence of major cooperative outcomes and suggests a pessimistic vision of TPMC's future, as three pairs of politico-economic gaps have led to asymmetries in the approaches adopted by China and Japan. First, a government-to-government policy asymmetry occurred between China's initiatives and Japan's responsiveness, as the latter merely utilized the TPMC as a temporary diplomatic tool to restore bilateral relations in late 2018 and appeared to have lost its policy momentum in the following years. Second, asymmetries in business modes and investment management between the two countries' enterprises have led to technical barriers in materializing the two governments' agreements into specific TPMC business collaboration. This study illustrated a project of Sino–Japanese collaboration in building a high-speed railway in Thailand, and saw this failed case as a warning for existing gaps of commercial modes. Third, both countries are now confronted with domestic underdeveloped public–private partnerships between state and private sectors. This article also aims to provide some policy-oriented implications for steadily implementing the Sino–Japanese TPMC in the future.

Competition Law Enforcement vs. The Policy Goal of an International Aviation Hub: Case Studies in East Asia

To what extent does the policy goal of an international aviation hub affect the enforcement of competition law? This article examines the dynamics between competition law enforcement and the policy goal of an international aviation hub in three East Asian competition jurisdictions: Singapore, Korea, and Hong Kong. Broadly speaking, industrial policy is one of the goals identified by some competition jurisdictions and plays an important role in enforcing competition law both explicitly and implicitly. While making an international aviation hub is a legitimate policy goal that competition law agencies can consider in their enforcement, competition law enforcers should be aware of the difference between making an international aviation hub and making a national champion airline. Although there is overlap between the two (i.e., having a competitive airline with a good network is helpful for making an aviation hub), the two are not identical and not always complementary. In keeping with the principle of competitive neutrality, this article argues that competition law enforcers should not selectively favour flag carriers when pursuing the policy goal of an international aviation hub. aviation hub, competition law, industrial policy, competitive neutrality, national champion airline, state-owned airline

Features of the Activities of Political Agents in the Tribal Area of the North-West Frontier Province of British India (1919–1939)

The special form of government of the North-West Frontier Province, analyzed in the article, was established through the interaction of British political agents with local tribes. The territory under consideration was characterized by a high level of instability, which they tried to neutralize by creating a multi-level management system, as well as establishing parity among local elites with British mediation as an arbiter. The administrative system formed by agents has survived, territorially related to modern Pakistan, with its characteristic problems, which is presented as the historical experience of British India in controlling its northwestern border. The main task of the British officers was to establish a controlled system of checks and balances in the border zone, aimed at resolving issues of ensuring the reliable protection of British India from external threats. At the same time, the possibility of a foothold for the territory under consideration was created for further geopolitical competition in Asia. The presented hierarchy of subordination removed this region from the general system of colony management and prevented reforms. The tribal area was under the territorial jurisdiction of British India, had full autonomy with limited agents who had representation in local jirgas and coordinated the actions of the militias, self-defense units, scouts. The implementation of the set installations was carried out using a number of mechanisms for the management of the province, concluded in diplomatic agreements, supported by financial payments in favor of the local elite, as well as by engaging the Indian army in particularly unstable areas.

Competitiveness of Global Apparel Industry: A Study Based on Transaction Cost Theory

This article explores global competitiveness in the apparel industry and its implications on the competitive performance of China and Bangladesh through the lens of transaction cost theory (TCT). The study has been conducted based on qualitative method of social science research. The primary evidence for this study has been collected through semi-structured in-depth personal interviews with key resource persons in international trade. The study finds that rising competition in global apparel trade largely influences Bangladesh’s competitiveness in the apparel industry compared to China. However, China’s apparel industry faces challenges from rising production costs. It also finds that unrestricted trade flows among Asian competitors through bilateral and comprehensive trade agreements have severe implications on Bangladesh’s competitiveness in apparel sector, while trade protectionism remains the key barrier towards China’s share of exports in global apparel market. The findings of the study will be crucial for both Chinese and Bangladeshi policy makers and stakeholders to address existing impediments, including future challenges to gain a competitive advantage in their apparel exports. The study is among the first to compare the international competitiveness of apparel industries between the two major apparel exporting countries by using TCT.

China-Russia Bilateral Security and Military Partnership in Changing World Order: Security Challenges for the United States of America in Asia and Beyond

The objective of this research is to assess the defence partnership of Russia and China after the Cold War period. This study analyses the military cooperation and strategic relation of Russia and China in the post-Cold War period. Further, the article highlights the main contradicting areas between the United States of America (USA) and the Russia-China alliance in international politics. It also elucidates the Russia-China relationship across the diplomatic paradigm and economic aspects in the global economic system. China’s flagship economic New Silk Road Initiative is a challenging concept for the US on land and maritime across the world. Thus, the study uses the research question: how do China and Russia compete with the US challenges in the new world order? The qualitative comparative method is used to investigate answers to the research questions and objectives of this study. This article attempts to use an analytical framework to describe the countries’ vision for joint development in the area of security issues. Russia and China have deep military cooperation and commit to working together against the US domination in the Asia Pacific and other parts of the world. In a conclusion it is stated that Russia and China have been accelerating bilateral military cooperation in a positive direction, which is a success story between both countries, and the US is facing stiff competition in Asia as well as in the Asia Pacific Region (APR).

The Asian Giants against EU Shipbuilding and the Covid-19 Factor: How Could the European Shipping Industry Survive?

The dominance of Europe in the shipbuilding market has been declining at a slow yet steady pace in the last forty years while the Asian shipbuilding sector grew massively and emerged as the leading market in the global shipbuilding industry. The Asian competition stemming from China, Japan, and Korea (the Asian Giants) together with the Covid-19 pandemic have been identified as urgent threats to European Union (EU) shipbuilding by numerous scholars and industry actors. The scope of this paper is to identify specific sets of proposals for the EU shipbuilding to be able to battle the challenges from the Asian shipbuilding market as well as the difficulties rising from the Covid-19 pandemic. Firstly, a comparative analysis between the competitors, thee three Asian Giants and the EU will be presented to highlight wrongdoings and gather valuable outtakes of each industry. Secondly, we will be looking at how Covid-19 is disrupting the maritime and shipbuilding industries of the EU. Evidence suggests that the nature of European shipyards’ work and expertise places them in a highly vulnerable position amidst Covid-19, as well as, that the Asian Giants are proven to be more resilient against the EU and Europe’s Covid-19-affected advantage in quality, expertise, and niche-equipment production.

Costco wholesale: the global expansion dilemma

Learning outcomes This case will enable students to understand the operations and business model of an international retailer. The case offers enough insights and learning on a retailer who enters a different market and collaborates with the local players to gain market access; and to understand the marketing techniques and strategies of an international retailer to capitalise on market opportunities. Case overview/synopsis The case is about a third largest US-based multinational Costco Wholesale corporation which is a giant retailer. The company operated at 803 locations with a revenue of $166.7bn, which makes it the third largest global retailer in 2020. The case offers comprehensive insight into Costco Wholesale’s business model, distribution strategy, marketing techniques and internationalisation. The authors further discuss that how Costco put forth its model among different range of customers and provided them with high-quality products at a comparatively lower price. The focus of the case is towards the Asian expansion of Costco. In subsequent parts, the strategies and challenges of Costco with respect to its Asian competitors have also been discussed. After generating experience in Asian markets, Costco has considered China as its next destination. The case also discusses the foreign retailers’ success, failure and retail format. Complexity academic level This case is designed for undergraduate and postgraduate classes of management and business administration. Supplementary materials Teaching notes are available for educators only. Subject code CSS 8: Marketing.

China and India’s soft rivalry in the Gulf region

ABSTRACT China and India have significant interests in the Gulf region. Their ties with the region are not limited to just the economic domain but, in fact, go beyond it to include the security and political domains. Consequently, to protect their interests, China and India have been pursuing various policies to engage with the region. These policies have been linked to their long-time spatial and positional rivalry in Asia. This article argues that the China–India rivalry in the Gulf region can be classified as a soft rather than hard rivalry. Unlike their rivalry in the Indian Ocean, seen as a hard rivalry, in which both powers are trying to contain and counter the power and presence of the other, the essence of their rivalry in the Gulf region is geared towards each power looking to strengthen its interest and not to directly undermine the interests of the other.

Land and Sea: The Evolving Great-power Contest in Asia

The contest for strategic dominance in Asia between the United States and China is playing out differently inland and at sea. Following the US withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, China’s influence across swathes of inland Asia is ascendant, due also to China’s strengthening partnerships with Iran, Pakistan and Russia. However, a bigger set of challenges confronts China’s growing maritime ambitions, since the US has corralled its own partners through arrangements such as AUKUS and the Quad to balance China’s growing naval ambitions. While nothing can predetermine the future course of US–China rivalry in Asia, its emerging contours indicate an inner Asia relatively free of Western influence and an increasingly contested maritime Asia.

Regional Competitiveness Analysis in Province of Gorontalo

The increased power is important based on the ability of the region to increase it. Regional ability to increase competitiveness depends on the ability of regions to find and determine the driving factors of competitiveness and provide economic policies that focus on transforming the acceleration of regional economic growth. This study aims to analyze the competitiveness of the macroeconomic stability of Gorontalo Province. The research is intended to find out how competitive macroeconomic stability of each district and city in Gorontalo Province. The districts/cities analyzed consisted of Gorontalo Regency, North Gorontalo Regency, Boalemo Regency, Pohuwato Regency, Bone Bolango Regency, and Gorontalo City. The research method applied in this study is descriptive analysis which provides an overview and geographic distribution of Gorontalo Province followed by quantitative calculation. The analytical tool engaged in this competitiveness study is the indicators and scope utilized by the Asian Competitiveness Institute (ACI). The results indicated that two of the six regencies and cities in Gorontalo Province were more competitive than the provincial average, specifically regency of Gorontalo and regency of Boalemo.

Measuring dynamic competitive relationship and intensity among the global coal importing trade

Until today, the volume and trade relationships of the global coal trade still follow an increasing trend, which adversely affects both the environment and coal supply security. However, whether the possibility exists to change this trend to a decrease in global coal trade competition remains unknown. If this were possible, the volume and relationships of coal trade would gradually decrease. To address this question, this paper applies the complex network model and comprehensively explores the dynamic competitive relationship and intensity among the global coal import trade. At the global level, the results indicate that more competitive relationships regarding coal imports emerge, and the coal import competition network has changed from a core periphery structure to a reticular structure. In addition, the competitive intensity of the global coal trade continues to rise. At the regional level, the role of the Asian-Pacific region, led by Japan and China, in the evolution of this competitive pattern is increasingly becoming prominent. In contrast, the competitive intensity of European importers has declined since 2007. At the national level, Japan bore the greatest competitive pressure among all coal-importing countries from 1998 to 2007, when it was replaced by China. The intensity of competition in China has increased fiercely, from seventh in 2009 to first in 2016. Finally, based on the results, meaningful policy implications are presented. For example, it is recommended that the result of record-high levels of coal competition in Asia should receive more attention, and a more appropriate use of coal should be developed.

SomPack: succession planning gone wrong

Learning outcomes The case, while acknowledging the difficulty of managing a family business in view of the accompanying human issues, emphasizes that sound business practices and procedures, and clarity with regard to the goal, remain the key; a firm is a complex, interconnected system and management needs a systems viewpoint; and technology can only support underlying business processes if there is clarity with respect to these. Case overview/synopsis SomPack had survived low-cost Asian competition starting the mid-1990s, a revolt by some extended family to try and bring it down with the help of a competitor, the Turkish banking crisis of 2001, and the global economic crisis of 2008 all the while watching its suppliers, competitors and customers collapse. A focus on cost-cutting and internal discipline by the successor, who had been promoted to CEO in 2004, had exacerbated internal discontent somewhat and had led to issues with production planning, but everyone understood that times were tough. Several large customers who had left were asked to return because the alternatives had been worse. By 2012, SomPack was considering expansion into new products in collaboration with its international partners. Then one day, in July 2013, it suddenly collapsed. Could the entire approach have been wrong? What should management have done instead? Complexity academic level Undergraduate, graduate business management. Supplementary materials Teaching Notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email support@emeraldinsight.com to request teaching notes. Subject code CSS 7: Management Science.

Can the six dimensions of Marketing Promotion enhance performance in the international shipbuilding industry?

The objective of this research is to analyse the degree of implementation of the six dimensions of Marketing Promotion in shipbuilding sector and the relationship between this degree and performance. The combined analysis of all Marketing Promotion dimensions identifies an improvement in performance of the companies that have made the greatest effort in terms of Promotion, being this influence mainly notable among Asian competitors. The specific study of each dimension detects similar efforts conducted by shipyards in terms of Personal sale, Sales promotion and Sponsorship, while it reveals differences in the use of Advertising, Public Relations and Direct Marketing techniques.

Development and strategic competition in Asia: toward polarization?

AbstractThe prioritization of economic development, considered as a key in understanding the co-existence of heightened security situations and growing economic interdependence in Asia, should be considered as a political strategy among many chosen by political elites in their own political context rather than a consensus implying general acquiescence to the idea. The recent competition between the Belt and Road Initiative by China and the Free and Open Indo-Pacific by the United States, Japan, Australia, and India confirms and reinforces the tendency toward the mobilization of development policy for increasingly strategic purposes in the context of rising tension between the United States and China. At the same time, there is some cooperative element in prioritizing development in Asia.

Japan’s Asian Competitors in Visegrád Countries

In this paper, I would like to review the economic activities of China and Korea based on their respective strategies and discuss the future economic activities of Japan, China and Korea in Visegrád countries.. China is expected to increase its investment to strengthen its economic ties with Visegrád countries. In view of the Japanese government’s cooperative posture with the U.S., some Japanese private companies have begun to restructure their supply chains, and Visegrád countries are likely to be attractive to them as important nodes in new supply chains. This is a time when Japan’s economic activities in Visegrád countries may expand. This will lead to a situation where Japan, China, and the ROK are all planning to develop their economic activities in the Visegrád countries.

Nuclear learning and US–China strategic stability in Asia

With intensifying US–China strategic rivalry in Asia, an increasingly salient issue of bilateral strategic stability is drawing growing attention from scholars and policy analysts alike. This paper examines how the nuclear arm competition between the two great powers, each driven by its (mis)perceptions of the other’s strategic intentions, and in the absence of adequate bilateral dialogues at the official level, runs serious risks of mutual misapprehension and miscalculation. Nuclear learning, in a way, offers some unique pathways for both countries to reassess their perceptions and find ways to engage each other and modify worse-case scenario preparation for war. With growing US–China strategic rivalry and a Trump administration determined to check if not derail China’s modernization process, one would expect Beijing to assess the situation, set its priorities, and develop strategies to manage the challenges. One of its priorities would be ensuring that bilateral disputes over security issues do not escalate to open military conflicts and risk escalation to nuclear exchanges largely as a result of misunderstanding, miscommunication, and miscalculation. At the same time, Beijing should be open to bilateral nuclear dialogue with Washington, not with an aim of revealing or accepting an upper limit on its nuclear arsenal, but to get a better understanding of the strategic, technical, and security implications of various potential agreements. Nuclear arms control measures remain viable options for the two powers to avoid nuclear Armageddon.