Japan, China, U.S. can play joint role in Mekong

The Yomiuri Shimbun

A neighbor to the countries that hug the Mekong River in Indochina, China has long had an interest in the region, but the United States has recently developed a growing interest in the nations as well.

Japan should take this opportunity, therefore, to back development of the region in close cooperation with both China and the United States.

The leaders of Japan and Southeast Asia's five Mekong River nations--Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam--met in Tokyo for their first Japan-Mekong summit meeting on Friday and Saturday.

The Tokyo Declaration adopted at the summit incorporates Japan's support measures, including the development of a distribution network linking production sites and industrial centers that are scattered across the region, as well as the expansion of environmental assistance.

Japan and China have found themselves competing for influence when it comes to development of the Mekong area, implementing their own plans regarding the building of transport corridors via the construction of roads, bridges and tunnels.

China has provided assistance for the construction program of the North-South Economic Corridor, which runs across an area stretching from China's Yunnan Province in the north to Thailand and Vietnam in the south.

Japan, on the other hand, has provided official development assistance for the construction programs of both the East-West Economic Corridor, which traverses the Indochina area, and the Southern Economic Corridor, which connects Bangkok with Ho Chi Minh City.

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Common rules needed

The use of land routes, such as the East-West Economic Corridor, could greatly reduce the time needed to transport goods compared with sending them by sea via the Malacca Straits.

However, there are hurdles to be overcome to realize a smoothly functioning transport corridor, most notably that customs and quarantine procedures at borders will need to be unified and streamlined.

Therefore, the joint statement issued at the summit notes the importance of improving the basic infrastructure of the Mekong states, not only in the form of such things as roads, but also in the form of institutional improvements for such things as border controls.

Japan should emphasize its support for the reshaping of such institutions and the training of customs and quarantine personnel.

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Dialogue with China, U.S. key

Japan and China have provided development assistance to Mekong nations within their own frameworks. But to ensure goods can be transported and people can travel without problems along the three key corridors, it is necessary to establish common rules covering their use.

To that end, it is important that the Japan-China Mekong policy dialogue forum, set up by Tokyo and Beijing in 2008, be used to enable the exchange of opinions on future policies for the Mekong region to safeguard the region's development and stability.

Also of importance is cooperation with the United States. The administration of U.S. President Barack Obama has placed importance on strengthening its ties with Asian nations.

In July, the United States held its first-ever ministerial meeting with four Mekong nations in Thailand--Myanmar being the only nation excluded from the forum.

To address the situation in Myanmar, the Obama administration has revised the previous administration's economic sanctions-only policy and told the Myanmar junta it is ready to improve relations with the country.

China has been increasing its influence over Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia, using economic aid as a strategic tool.

Washington's apprehension over Beijing's moves is thought to be a key reason the United States has adopted a policy of engagement with Myanmar.

As Japan builds a cooperative relationship with China, it must also work with the United States in a way that promotes a favorable outcome for all parties.

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 8, 2009)