Shino Watanabe, Sophia University, Japan
The Indo-Pacific region has attracted growing attention politically, economically, and strategically with the rise of new initiatives. The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) Vision are the primary driving forces behind the dynamic relationships among the countries in the region.
Introduction
In June 2019, ASEAN countries adopted “ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific” at the ASEAN senior officials meeting held in Bangkok. It was a concerted response to the BRI and FOIP. What are the challenges for the region under these initiatives? How do the BRI and FOIP coexist?
Sino-Japanese Relations
Sino-Japanese relations have been improving since 2018 amid US-China trade friction. The turning point was Abe’s visit to China from October 25th to 27th in 2018. This visit commemorated the 40th anniversary of the Treaty of Peace and Friendship between Japan and China, signed on August 12th, 1978.
Belt and Road Initiative
China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), proposed in 2013, involves infrastructure development and investments in 149 countries and international organizations. The BRI consists of two main components: the overland Silk Road Economic Belt, and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.
Free and Open Indo-Pacific Vision
Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe proposed the Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) Strategy in August 2016. The US embraced this vision in the 2017 National Security Strategy. The FOIP emphasises: promotion of the rule of law and freedom of navigation; pursuit of economic prosperity; and commitment to peace and stability.