JAPAN AND SOUTHEAST ASIA OPPORTUNITIES AND CONSTRAINTS 1
- Slides: 6
JAPAN AND SOUTHEAST ASIA: OPPORTUNITIES AND CONSTRAINTS 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Traditional regional image of Japan Images of Japan in Southeast Asia Post-War Japanese interest in SEA Constraints on Japanese regional involvement Opportunities for positive engagement
TRADITIONAL REGIONAL IMAGE OF JAPAN l l l Militaristic with imperialist past Powerful regional country Strongly allied with the United States Interested in raw material supplies Interested in markets for manufactured goods Potential counter-balance to China
IMPRESSIONS OF JAPAN IN SOUTHEAST ASIA l l GOOD – Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar NEUTRAL – Brunei, Laos GUARDED – Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam POOR - Philippines
POST-WAR JAPANESE INTEREST IN SOUTHEAST ASIA l l l Source of raw materials Base and market for manufacturing Stabilization of regional environment Contribution to economic development Involvement and funding for reconstruction Security of sealanes
CONSTRAINTS ON JAPANESE REGIONAL INVOLVEMENT l l l Memories of War generation Fears of militarization and aggression Economic nationalism (Indonesia & Thailand) Attitude and behaviour of businesses Issue specific concerns eg. comfort women
OPPORTUNITIES FOR POSITIVE ENGAGEMENT l l l l Post-War reconstruction in Indochina Negotiating peace in Aceh, Indonesia Negotiating peace in Mindanao, Philippines Negotiating peace in Myanmar Provision of educational and training facilities Provision of basic health and infrastructure Funding for poppy substitution programmes Pollution monitoring and control
