On Japan's Official Development Assistance And Japan-ASEAN Relations

As one of the most effective way of developing relations with other countries and promoting Japanese domestic economy, Official Development Assistance —ODA also served as a tool to strengthen Japan's influence over the international community and realize Japan's strategic aim of becoming a major political power. Japan took Asia-Pacific region as the primary concern of investment and economic aid, which is "based on cooperation with ASEAN". Thus 1/3 of foreign aid provided by Japan was given to ASEAN, which indicates Japan's growing stature in Asian international politics and helps Japan to establish its role of "speakman of Asia" in the world. In the development of Japan-ASEAN relations, the changes and adjustments of Japan's ODA to ASEAN always mirrors the different international economical and political climates in different times. It also reflects the ever-changing situation of both Japan and ASEAN. Japan's ODA to ASEAN has brought great influence to the bilateral relations in aspects of economy, politics, culture ect. In addition, as the rise of other countries in East-Asia area such as China, Japan-ASEAN relations in future will be more and more interfered by the acts of other nations.