Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks via video link at the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) in Tunis, Tunisia, on Saturday. Photo: Tunisian Presidency/Handout via REUTERS
politics

Kishida pledges $30 bil over next 3 years for Africa

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33 Comments
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Where's money come from more taxation? From debt?

10 ( +19 / -9 )

How about spending $30 billion on schools and regeneration and helping families in Japan first?

21 ( +24 / -3 )

Why?

11 ( +15 / -4 )

So Japan appears to be taking China's cue and spending billions of dollars in constructive offshore investment while the U.S., mired in its archaic foreign policy, continues to spend billions of dollars in destructive offshore investment with, as we have seen in every recent major U.S. offshore investment (Iraq, Afghanistan, Ukraine, et alia), negative return while U.S. schools decay into irrelevance, infrastructure decays into rust, and Human welfare decays into chaotic frustration and hostility, and the 'Empire' becomes ever more hollow and fragile.

0 ( +9 / -9 )

About the same or even more has been spent as ODA for CCP China (which surpassed Japan in GDP long time ago) up until march this year, where the people don't know nor even care. Do not repeat the same mistakes.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

FFS people it’s not 3 Billion for free, it’s called Foreign Aid which is given for Diplomacy and Trade. It’s an investment in return for various commitments that are negotiated upfront and over the period of the loan. Those trade negotiations will allow Japan access to market for its goods and services, machinery to build roads and buildings, cars and trucks to goods move on the roads, design services. TVs, microwaves, computers for the buildings. Japan will also have access to resources it needs which those countries at a better price. Africa gets to improve, it’s status of living and Japan generates sales and revenues for its businesses at home and abroad. That means returns go to the Japan’s revenues from multiple sources.

Japan has no intent to give money out for free.

-6 ( +8 / -14 )

To answer the first poster's rhetorical question, yes. The quantitative easing continues unabted, with impunity.

The piper is going to eventually want to be paid.

1 ( +7 / -6 )

@Sakurasuki

Typically government bonds but it will be from a variety of sources including planning for return on debts and interest it’s owed on foreign aid it already has outstanding. It’s not from taxes collected.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Is this a pledge as in a confirmed agreement? Or is it an Amber Heard pledge? The LDP specializes in the latter I know, so maybe this is a non-event.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

This... Japan doesn't just give away money to feel good about itself. Of course, some of the money invested will be wasted or skimmed, but they still expect Japan to benefit. Japan needs to achieve economic growth through these kinds of international cooperations since the domestic population and market is shrinking.

FFS people it’s not 3 Billion for free, it’s called Foreign Aid which is given for Diplomacy and Trade

4 ( +6 / -2 )

The other circular economy: Japan will give Africa $30bn of taxpayer's money to spend on stuff made by Japan Inc.

Plus Japan's next tranche of migrant farm labourers and carers will be from Africa, Chinese labour now being a national security risk.

The UK are getting nurses from Kenya. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-62506475

Get in quick if you want the best staff. There are no ethical issues, as it is a rainbow coloured policy to increase diversity and learn from other cultures, and absolutely not a labour grab to make up for the ones G7 nations just kicked out in Covid repatriations and Brexit.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

The costs for Abe's state funeral pale into insignificance when compared to this.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

Most of Japan’s ODA is syphoned off to big Japanese corporations who practice “amakudari”.

They will hand over a huge amount of cash to Vietnam for example who then have to use the cash to pay MHI to make a bridge.

The money pledged to China is like shutting the barn door after the horse has fled.

China owns most of Africa already after spending the last 35 years wining and dining the local leaders while Japan just sat on its behind.

The giant egos in Japan’s geriatric government can’t bear playing second fiddle to China,hence the huge expenditure. However,like usual Japan is too late.

6 ( +9 / -3 )

Headline should read 30billion in subsidy to Mitsui and Mitsubishi for African business

6 ( +9 / -3 )

So easy to pledge OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY...

0 ( +4 / -4 )

Japan wants a market for it's products and penetrate into the African consumers.

Japan needs resources which Africa

has in abundance.

Japan wants a permanent seat in the UNSC and needs votes from African countries.

Japan wants it's companies to get a foothold in Africa.

Japan wants to compete with China in Africa.

All the above plus many more.But as usual,Japan is a late comer.Chinese and Europe dominate.U.S.Corporations have also made huge inroads.Just a week before this meeting,US corporations signed contracts and agreements worth US$44 Billion in Africa.

Meanwhile Japan makes pledges and after the meeting is over,comes back to Kasumigaseki,teeth gritting,kentou suru,dou shiyouka,until the next Ticad and the pledge cycle repeats itself.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

Maybe a silly question but when they say Africa who do they mean as this huge continent is made of 54 countries...

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Why?

USA covert war against China

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Japan wants a market for it's products and penetrate into the African consumers.

there is joining the Belt and Road or BRICS.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

What does “overcoming challenges in the region mean”? One is sorely tempted to wax cynical here…

0 ( +1 / -1 )

"Debt Trap" for Japanese taxpayers from the Japanese government

-6 ( +0 / -6 )

How about scaling your medical info structure domestically before giving away money to foreign countries

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Japan can never compete with China when it comes to building infrastructure, all of the oversee projects, Taiwan, Philippines, India, have turned into costly jokes, because Japanese companies hire locals to do the job, whereas China bring in their experienced workers.

I hope the money will be spent on the natural resources

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

Japan can never compete with China when it comes to building infrastructure, all of the oversee projects, Taiwan, Philippines, India, have turned into costly jokes, because Japanese companies hire locals to do the job, whereas China bring in their experienced workers.

Are you comparing the Chinese paper dolls with Japanese construction technology ?

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Spend it here!

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

How about spending $30 billion on schools and regeneration and helping families in Japan first?

In other worlds, do not help other people. Dont help Ukraine, do not assist Africa. The worlds third largest economy is in such a bad way that the very thought of sending help to others, or developing partnerships with those less fortunate is considered a waste?

Many Japanese are helpful, thoughtful and have no issue with what has been proposed to help others. During major natural disasters Japan has received help from around the world in the billions of dollars. Would it have been better for those countries to ask why they are helping Japan when their own nation could use more money here or there to help their own citizens?

It really hurts to see the callous comments from some when Japan offers help as a good global citizen. No country is ever going to be perfect, there will always be those struggling and poor. Until money is no longer used in the world, that will always be the case.

Working together to help others brings rewards in itself and ensures when your country is in need it will have people wanting to help.

Japan helping to develop Africa is a good thing for Africa and the world. Let's make sure Japan does not try to do this alone. Others should be encouraged to join Japan to help build a sustainable and more prosperous Africa.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Peter14:

You've changed your tune. Whenever it's China who's helping out, you can't contain your anger and jealousy enough. No talk of debt trap??!!! One rule for one country, another for others? One face or two face?

China can afford to help. Has Japan forgotten about the ongoing Fukushima problem, payments for last year's Olympics and its own people?

Western countries are NOT helping Ukraine. They are prolonging the war and letting more and more people die. Even Japan and Germany had to surrender eventually to save their own people.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

The reason why Japan is so interested in Africa all of sudden is because China is trying to do the same and Japan wants to try to out beat China.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

He cant help the inflation and covid but he sure can fork money out to all other nations

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

No money but just talks!

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

@PUkey

Western countries are NOT helping Ukraine. They are prolonging the war and letting more and more people die. 

Nearly every civilian who has died a violent death in Ukraine since February has been killed by the Russian military. How is that Western countries are the ones "letting people die"? After reading your various posts, I am convinced that your brain is hardwired to conclude that everything bad in the world is the fault of the West.

 Even Japan and Germany had to surrender eventually to save their own people.

Imperial Japan and Nazi Germany did exactly what Putin did in February. There is absolutely no logic or reason in your argument.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

The move here is clear if you casually follow global politics. Everybody arguing in the comments with their feelings is missing the news. It doesn’t matter. It is simply a play. All you can do is to see how it pans out. The end.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Pukey2

You've changed your tune. Whenever it's China who's helping out, you can't contain your anger and jealousy enough. No talk of debt trap??!!! One rule for one country, another for others? One face or two face?

China rarely helps others with donated aid, it continues to embroil struggling nations in debt traps. I have not altered my views on the dangers stemming from China at all. You simply read things incorrectly. China only helps itself and does so at the cost of others.

As for Jealousy when China initiates debt traps as some sort of aid, that is a fantasy in your mind only. It is not "aid" from China and no jealousy involved when China is pillaging other nations via loans unable to be repaid.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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