China’s Belt and Road in the South Pacific: A Japanese Perspective on Threats and Opportunities for the West

South Pacific nations increasingly find themselves stuck between China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the alternative Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) promoted by nations including Australia.

China's rise has profound economic and strategic effects globally. In the South Pacific, the dominance of traditional aid powers Australia and Japan has been challenged by the growing share and influence of Chinese aid to the region. The large volume of infrastructure loans from China has raised international concerns about debt traps and political subjugation of the small island states to Beijing's strategic objectives. Strategic discussions among the revived "Quad" members – Australia, the US, Japan and India - in response have resulted in coordinated economic assistance to the region to offer alternatives to Chinese aid. Ongoing coordination between Australia and Japan entails a possible revision of their aid principles. In this talk, Professor Yoichiro Sato will review Japan's traditional aid principles and the current Chinese approach in light of Western criticism and make an argument for coordinated aid principles for Australia and Japan.

Professor Yoichiro Sato holds a BA (Law) from Keio University, MA (International Studies) from the University of South Carolina, and PhD (Political Science) from the University of Hawaii. He is a professor at Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University in Japan.

Date: Thursday 22nd August 2019

Venue: Law Lecture Theatre 1, Law Faculty, Sandy Bay campus

Time: 5.30 pm for 6.00 pm (Refreshments will be served from 5.30pm)

This event is co-hosted by the Australian Institute of International Affairs - Tasmania and the University of Tasmania.