3 QUESTIONS - Japanese PM Fumio Kishida's trip to 4 African nations, Japan and China compete for influence in Africa

By Huriye Yildirim Cinar

- The author is the African Institute co-director at Turkish Asian Center for Strategic Studies (TASAM)

ISTANBUL (AA) – The purpose of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's trip to 4 African nations and the competition between Japan and China for influence in Africa is discussed here in three questions.

- What is the purpose of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's week-long trip to 4 African nations?

The foreign ministers from the G7 countries held a meeting in Japan's Karuizawa on April 16-18.

They released a joint communique highlighting some points, such as the Taliban's hindrance of women's employment, the Ukraine-Russia war, and China's aggressive policies in the South China Sea with the idea of a joint front against China.

China denounced the G7 communique, saying that the countries interfere in Chinese internal affairs.

We can talk about the G7 countries' explicit aim to establish a new international order as they attach great importance to winning the support of the Global South countries to limit Russia and China's power.

Kishida also tries to create foreign policy strategies within the framework of the idea of receiving support from the Global South countries.

Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi's recent visits to Mexico, Ecuador, Argentina, and Brazil, as well as Kisida's Africa tour, are also part of this strategy.

The four African countries on his tour have good relations with China.

China is one of Kenya's largest trading partners, and the two countries have six bilateral agreements aimed at boosting the bilateral ties in 2022.

The relationship between Egypt and China has experienced significant growth in recent years.

Supporting Egypt's space programs, China has become an important investor in trade and infrastructure projects in Egypt.

China also has a presence in Mozambique, implementing many projects in the country, especially in the energy field.

Finally, China became one of the biggest trade partners of Ghana, while the Minister of Finance of Ghana visited China in April to develop bilateral relations.

Hayashi's visit to African countries can also be considered a counterbalance to China in the region.

- What are the main points of Japan's African policy?

Despite occasional calls from its strategic ally, the US, to increase military spending, Japan has focused all of its motivation on economic and development issues, quickly becoming an important economic and technological power.

Japan established its ties with African countries from an economic perspective.

Especially in development and humanitarian aid, Japan has provided a significant amount of resources to some African countries, which are of great importance for its rapidly developing industry's raw material and market needs.

However, there are some changes in the principles underlying Japan's African policy today, while Japan's relations with African nations now include political issues in addition to economic perspectives.

China is seen as a significant competitor in Japanese foreign policy.
Since the beginning of the 2000s, Japan's foreign policy is focusing on eliminating China's growing role in Africa.

The joint communique of the G7 foreign ministers meeting, reflecting the intention to restrict China and Russia's efforts, overlaps with Japanese foreign policy.

At the 8th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD), held in Tunisia in August 2022, Prime Minister Kishida made remarks against Russia and China, pledging $30 billion in aid for development in Africa.

Japan's intention to become a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is another reason behind the country's policy to establish closer relations with African countries.

Since China is against Japan getting a permanent seat on UNSC, Japan seeks to receive the support of African nations, which constitute the largest voting bloc in the UN.

- Can Japan succeed against China and Russia in Africa?

This is quite unlikely.

Japan pledged $30 billion to Africa at the 8th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD), which is less than the $40 billion promised by China in 2021.

Furthermore, Japan-Africa trade was worth $24 billion a year, while the trade volume between China and Africa reached $254 billion.

Japan has a relatively low level of competitiveness with China in trade in Africa, especially in the aftermath of the economic downturn due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Additionally, China's economic presence in Africa indirectly allows them to give political power in the region.

China's domination of ports and infrastructure projects in some African countries is an example of it.

China is bolstering its ties in Africa, regardless of whether the regimes in the region adhere to democratic principles and without regard for their commitment to upholding the law and respecting human rights.

This perspective, called the Beijing Consensus, has been welcomed by African countries, leading to cooperation with China in many fields.
But for Japan, it is different.

Since the end of the Cold War, Japan's dependence on the principles of democracy and the rule of law has created distance between Japan and some African leaders.

Finally, many African states believe that cooperation with Russia will yield faster and more effective results in their internal problems, such as conflicts, terrorism, and political and economic crises, as they have not had much success in cooperating with Western actors, and some have even made things worse.

More than 20 military agreements have been signed between Russia and African countries since 2015.

It is clear that Tokyo itself now does not have enough power to compete with Russia in Africa.

However, Japan could accelerate cooperation with Western countries in order to contain China and Russia on the continent.

*Opinions expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Anadolu Agency.