Prime Minister Shinzo ABe Photo: AP
politics

Abe offers conditional cooperation with China's Silk Road initiative

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I don't think Abe understands. Japan isn't really needed for this new silk road as it doesn't even reach the country, and yet he's acting as if he's a big player in all this. Like all the other financial projects and trade pacts, is he going to make a decision once the horse has bolted?

5 ( +8 / -3 )

harmony with a free and fair Trans-Pacific economic zone

Does this guy ever stop?

But he cautioned that it is "critical for infrastructure to be open to use by all, and to be developed through procurement that is transparent and fair."

So as much as I know LDP, Abe and Japan, the above statement should be translated as

Japan gets exclusive rights to use the entire infrastructure on her own terms by participating in minimum acceptable capacity and the procurement process can only be accepted as transparent and fair if Japanese companies with their inflated price quotes are awarded the contracts.

as @Pukey2 mentioned above Japan isn't really needed for OBOR project, Japan's "unique" geography, lack of natural resources, declining manufacturing, reducing labor forces doesn't make it a country that can offer anything to other countries joining OBOR, yet Abe thinks he can dictate the terms of something Japan isn't a part of and even if it becomes a part It won't be offering more than it gains.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Pukey2

I think it's obvious to anyone that the road would not literally reach Japan.

But obviously the world's third economy joining the AIIB would be way more significant, than say Russia or Vietnam.

If China can get Japan on it (meaning China has the upper hand), it would a total coup against America and its leadership from another point of view.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Agree. The look of smugness says it all. Out of touch, being left behind. The long stroll to mediocrity.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

"I furthermore consider it essential for projects to be economically viable and to be financed by debt that can be repaid, and not to harm the soundness of the debtor nation's finances," Abe said, adding Tokyo is "ready to extend cooperation from that perspective."

if only he could take it to heart and repeat same regarding Japan's internal market and spiraling national debt.

but I'm just a dreamer.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Abe is just pretending to look like he calls the shots, as if he's actually got more leverage. China doesn't even seem to press Japan in joining.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

I thought Japan and India is creating a competing alternative to China's OBOR.

http://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/race-for-supremacy-india-japan-plan-alternative-to-china-s-obor-117051501273_1.html

What is really happening?

2 ( +2 / -0 )

"critical for infrastructure to be open to use by all, and to be developed through procurement that is transparent and fair."

Yeah.... meaning "you had better guarantee Japanese construction projects in something they are not needed in, or it will be regrettable and Japan will consider it unfair". Sorry, Shinzo... but all the pressing to alienate China around the world on the taxpayer's dime doesn't mean China suddenly has to relent to your bullying.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

I agree that OBOR would potentially connect Euro-Asia together. And I think Minister Abe's requirement of "fair" is resonable. But I don't think this project benefits Chinese citizens enough.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

China is maneuvering itself into being a world leader and now that the Orange One wants to "make America great again" by giving his friends tax breaks and cheap investments, he's playing along. By this time in 2020, China will be a very formidable player (and the Orange One's family will be making money as well.) Abe just wants to tag along and make sure his friends make money as well (construction companies).

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Japan didn't participated the first silk road. It is not necessary for Japan to participate the second one. But there is no need to leave Japan out deliberately. Chinese govt is the most open govt since ancient time. Once upon a time, Japanese and Chinese were treated the same to join the govt as long as you could pass the tests.

Supposedly, East Asia is the most peaceful region in the world because of more than 3000 years integration. Unfortunately, Abe made the area the most confrontational zone. Instead of reach out to the mainland China and 1.4 billion Chinese people, Abe diamonds with Australia almost 7000 km away with only 23 million population. It doesn't make any economic sense.

With modern technologies and communications, more and more Chinese feel Europe is more closer than Japan, Europeans are more friendly than Japanese. That could be Abe's legacy.

This has to be changed. There has to be a major and substantial initiative, more than just passively joining the one road and one belt, because every nations can do that.

East Asians must revitalize their historical bond, with unified language, unified culture, unified money, unified technology, and unified food.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

I say China should offer Japan a conditional offer to join their "one belt, one road" initiative. Japan's just anxious by China's growing hegemony in Asia. Japan is a part of China's hegemony! Live with it. Instead of avoiding the history's inevitable fact that China has always been Asia's foremost representative!

1 ( +2 / -1 )

" mulan Today 12:23 am JST

East Asians must revitalize their historical bond, with unified language, unified culture, unified money, unified technology, and unified food."

They just don't all want to have to learn Chinese and be governed by a totalitarian dictatorship.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Abe has recovered somehow to be sane minded.

But he still is confused. Economics has nothing to do with politics. You take risk if you invest, there is no guarantee.

Japan has been benefited from the first silk road thousand years ago, what makes Abe doubts the second silk road? He needs some independent thinking.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

I thought Japan and India is creating a competing alternative to China's OBOR. What is really happening?

They can't compete, that's what's happening.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Silk road is the only chance for Japan to be viable again, and the only arrow for Abenomics to work.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

What is Abe's legacy for future generations?

Almost nothing so far. This is the only chance for him.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

This seems pretty logical given the US political environment. Abe has be at least willing to play along with the Chinese or get shut out when the major deals start happening. Also note Japan has a lot of cash and credit in the form of national loans and bonds that is in direct competition with Chinese credit. Given China's recent downgrading in it's credit rating, this posturing move makes even more sense.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

not sure what benefit this project will be to Japan.  Abe trying to mend bridges with China?

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

our dear leader is giving conditions to a country that he is also threatening war with?

-5 ( +2 / -7 )

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