politics

4 Central Europe countries seek Japan's support for infrastructure plan

15 Comments

The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.

© KYODO

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

15 Comments
Login to comment

If Japan doesn't take up the offer China will be two steps behind then with their "Belt and Road" debt trap bs. Good opportunity for Japan to build visibility, influence and allies among European nations. Might be a time Japan needs some allies. You never know.

10 ( +12 / -2 )

This is the Visegrád Group (V4). They are collectively positioned at strategic crossroads between Russia, the EU, Romania, and the Ukrane. They are also part of Visegrad Group+Central Asia, joint venture (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan). They are pledged to cooperate in wide issues of energy, health, the environment, trade, water resources, justice, education, and the rule of law. They also have pledged to coordinate resources in international terrorism, illicit trafficking in drugs, and weapons and cybercrime

This is well worth considering.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

If you want to counter China influence this is a good step forward.

Japan has good infrastructure and technology which Europe can definitely benefit.

7 ( +10 / -3 )

Fine, but not sure what sort of ask this is for “support”.

Fron the useless Japanese government? Just work with Japanese businesses directly.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

@albaleo: Incorrect. Trains were manufactured by Hitachi. They were assembled at Newton Aycliffe, not manufactured, mate. Facts aye.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Agree with Bakakuma.

If China doesn't help the developing countries, then who will? But this is a very good offer for Japan.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I agree, Desert Turtoise. They want to give the ‘last miles’ preferably to Japan, not also to China. A small piece of cake at the party table is still better than having no chair and only washing the dishes outside.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Chinese influence is not all bad. I seen poor countries that have suffered for centuries with NGOs and UN pretending to make changes in these countries. China comes in and builds roads, electric lines, hospitals, and ports.

Some of the so-called beneficiaries of these projects are having second thoughts. One problem is the lack of definition of what One Belt One Road really is. Effectively every Chinese overseas development project has been labeled, accurately or not, as part of One Belt One Road. Second, many nations in Eurasia are postponing or backing out of One Belt One Road projects as it becomes clear that they are not gifts from China at all but must be paid back. Malaysia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Sierra Leone, Kyrgyzstan, among other countries have canceled, downsized, or postponed key One Belt One Road projects. Upon more careful examination many nations have come to realize they cannot afford these projects if they must pay the full cost plus interest. Huawei built a data center in Papua New Guinea after the PNG government borrowed some $53 million AUD to pay for it. It turns out the data center was being used by the PLA to conduct military intelligence operations. The PNG government is now refusing to pay back the loan. Immediately after this happened the Chinese told the PNG government that some among 53 workers being sent to a nickel mine owned by China Metallurgical Group Corporation might test positive for Covid-19. The Chinese were claiming these employees would test positive because they had been vaccinated, however at the time they were being sent to PNG in August 2020 there was no approved vaccine for Covid-19 in China or anywhere else.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Maybe look at the high speed trains Hitachi supplied the UK before committing.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

But due to the pandemic, they will make the trains much shorter, longer time spans between train arrivals, and make windows frozen so you cannot open them.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Facts aye.

Even if they were manufactured in Japan, I still don't get your point.

Some facts: the other day I drove my Japanese-company manufactured car into town. It worked fine. I had my eyes tested with some Japanese-company equipment. The optician seemed happy with it. I then drove past a Japanese pharmaceutical company's UK facilities - I noticed no cracks in the walls.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Maybe look at the high speed trains Hitachi supplied the UK before committing.

I take it you were referring to the cracks found on a number of trains in the UK over the weekend. I understand those trains were made in County Durham. Hitachi UK supplied them to UK rail network companies. It seems very much a UK issue.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Maybe look at the high speed trains Hitachi supplied the UK before committing.

I take it you were referring to the cracks found on a number of trains in the UK over the weekend. I understand those trains were made in County Durham. Hitachi UK supplied them to UK rail network companies. It seems very much a UK issue.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Chinese influence is not all bad. I seen poor countries that have suffered for centuries with NGOs and UN pretending to make changes in these countries. China comes in and builds roads, electric lines, hospitals, and ports. Yes, they line Chinese pockets but better than anyone else has done till now. Now they can transport goods without worry of dirt roads being washed away during rains and all the basic amenities in these countries. I have seen first hand that its not all bad. Although all these infrastructure is building the new silk road.

-6 ( +4 / -10 )

Login to leave a comment

Facebook users

Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday. By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts.

Facebook Connect

Login with your JapanToday account

User registration

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites