The Second Abe Government Study On The Development Assistance Policy For The Mekong Sub-region

Mekong's five countries,as an important part of Southeast Asia,are more than an area with substantial labor force and a potential market,but also have turned to be more geopolitically significant.Since 1990 s,the long-time warfare in this region has ended and political situation has been eased.In this context,Mekong was endowed with the meaning of ‘Greater Mekong Subregion',which means that the subregion integration was highlighted.As a result,extraterritorial powers,including Japan,got involved in this region.As Abe administration set up for the second time,the strategic importance of ODA in Mekong illustrates its intention of competition and game play with China.Japan not only adjusts its ODA according to the recipient countries' development strategies,but also coincides with some proposals related to Mekong and Indo-China peninsula in China's ‘Belt and Road Initiative'.Based on the concepts of ‘Philosophy' and ‘Motivation' of the ODA theory,this thesis discusses how the second Abe administration decides the balance point on ODA's Public-Private axis(international interest and national interest)by analyzing Abe Administration's ODA so far in this area.The thesis draws a conclusion that the second Abe administration's ODA in Mekong is a combination of international interests and national interests with more emphasis on the latter.China should thus make sure how Japan's ODA adjusts according to different types of motives in order to respond flexibly and cautiously.