On The Changes of Japan’s ODA Towards China
——A study from 1990s to the early 21st century
ABSTRACT
Since the initiation of the open and reform policy, Japan’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) plays a critical role in restoring and improving the bilateral relationship, which became the symbol of Japan’s friendship to China. Japan’s assistance to China has supported the development of infrastructure in China, benefited bilateral trade and Japanese companies’ direct investment in China, contributed the rapid growth of the Chinese economy and the expansion of China’s domestic market, and also indirectly contributed to the cooperation in the areas of economy and trade between the two countries.
At first, this paper makes a simple instruction about the definition and form of ODA. Then，it shows the influence on the Chinese economic, Japanese economic and Sino-Japanese economic relationship because of Japan’s ODA towards China, which not only promoted the development of Chinese economic, but also brought out huge economic benefits for the past nearly 30 years’ assistance.
This paper summarizes the change of Japan’s ODA to China：Japanese loan’s reducing fast every year, the loan implementing transferred annually, mainly assistant with inland area, environment protection, poverty alleviation and specialists training (especially western area). March in 2005, Japan announced that they planed to start declining the Japanese loan to China since this fiscal year. Besides, they will gradually stop all the plans till the fiscal year 2008, but continuously supplying the donation on specialist training and environment protection, and supplying the technology assistance, which will be canceled someday. Meanwhile, this paper comes up with many reasons for the drastic adjustment. ODA is just development assistance, and it’s always used as a diplomatic card blocking China.
The intensive adjustment of Japan’s ODA will definitely bring out significant impact upon Sino-Japanese relationship. Therefore, studying ODA and its changes will be helpful for us to make a better understanding about the development and the changes in Sino-Japanese relationship. At the same time, from China’s perspective, we should keep alert, having flexible and effective strategies for the stable, health and friendly cooperation relationship.
