Analysis Of The Evolution And Motivation Of Japan's Aid Policy To Africa After The Cold War

After World War II,Japan was in a state of complete disuse,and its primary task was to rebuild its country and restore its economy.However,as an island country lacking resources,Japan has been worried about being isolated by the international community.Therefore,vigorous development of overseas trade and promotion of export-oriented economy are of great significance for Japan's post-war recovery and reconstruction.Through foreign trade,Japan has established ties with distant Africa.With the strengthening of bilateral trade relations,the Japanese government has begun to engage more deeply with African countries,and Japan's aid to Africa is also launched in this context.Japan's aid to African countries began in the 1960s.Since then,official development assistance to African countries has become one of the core elements of its African diplomatic strategy.In the Post-Cold War era,Japan's motives for aid to Africa have diversified,and began to consider from political,economic and strategic aspects.In particular,Abe put forward the strategy of "free and open Indian Ocean-Pacific" at the TICAD VI in 2016,which included Africa in the framework of Japan's global diplomatic strategy,at the same time,compared with the ambiguous and cumbersome mechanism of Japan's aid to Africa during the cold war,Japan has established a relatively complete and centralized decision-making mechanism for aid to Africa and also established a special mechanism of international aid conference after years of development.It is believed that through a comprehensive and in-depth analysis and study of the historical process,characteristics,motivation of Japan's aid to Africa after the cold war,as well as the Enlightenment of its experience to China,it can provide useful reference for the further improvement of China's African diplomatic strategy and international aid strategy.Japan's increasing aid to Africa is the result of a combination of multiple factors,including consideration of the international background,the need for national interests,and the change of Japan's core decision-making concepts.From the perspective of international environment,since the establishment of the AU in the new century,the collective strength of African countries has played an increasingly important role and influence in the international political and economic structure.Japan has begun to actively adjust its policy towards Africa and increase its assistance.At the same time,Japan's aid policy to Africa has also been influenced and shaped by the Japan-US alliance,especially in order to counteract China's huge influence in the African region.From the perspective of national interests,Japan's main purpose is to enhance Japan's influence in the African region,obtain African countries' support for Japan's"normal" and realize the dream of "political power";ensure the supply of Japan's energy resources in order to maintain Japan's national economic security;promote its own values and economic development model in the African region,and expand Japan's international influence.In addition,Japan's lack of in-depth diplomatic concepts towards African countries is also an important reason for Japan to strengthen its assistance to Africa.Based on the long-term aid practice after the war,the Japanese government has accumulated rich experience and established a complete government development assistance system.These aid experiences are undoubtedly a valuable asset for China.Therefore,taking the cold war as the time node,this paper tries to sort out,analyze and summarize Japan's policy of aid to Africa after the cold war.it can provide useful reference for the further improvement of China's African diplomatic strategy and international aid strategy.