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In the following chapter, Keokam Kraisoraphong compares and contrasts the approaches of China and Japan towards the Mekong subregion . She notes that China’s and Japan’s moves to enhance their presence in the Greater Mekong Basin (GMB) have become “an intensified rivalry.” This rivalry is evidenced in their race for infrastructural development and connectivity such as roads. She writes: “While China is known to commit to the development of its initiated vertical, north–south economic corridor, Japan is seen to maintain its presence against China by its support of the horizontal, east–west economic corridors.” Keokam Kraisoraphong observes: “a closer look at China’s incorporation of economic incentives and its policy of non-interference together with its use of comprehensive external economic cooperation, which combines trade, investment, and aid … reveals how security concerns always underpin China’s every decision and its every strategic move in the region .” In the case of Japan, “the GMB’s potential lies in its large business market, energy resources, and role as potential political counterweight to China.” She perceives that Japan has differentiated its approach from the Chinese in terms of normative values including democracy and the rule of law. While China and Japan offer developmental benefits to the Mekong riparian states, they are driven not merely by altruism or business considerations but also geopolitical rivalry. |
