Description

After former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe paid a visit to ten ASEAN countries in 2013, Japan emphasized increasing its visibility in the Southeast Asian region. Considering China’s steadily expanding influence in the region, a country like Bangladesh, which serves as a connecting link between South and Southeast Asia, will be considered sincerely for membership in the ASEAN. As the result of Sino-Japanese rivalry, Japan and other powerful nations introduced FOIP, AUKUS, CTPP, and QUAD as countermeasures to China’s BRI and RCEP to establish its image as a liberal, the alternative partner of China and a credible security provider of this region. The Southeast Asian nations have significantly contributed to assisting Japan in this regard. In contrast, the Chinese loan-making initiatives are receiving rejection by the Southeast Asian community as they are considered a debt trap diplomacy aimed at influencing the least developed countries. In contrast, being a reliable partner for the Southeast Asian region throughout the years, Japan has advocated for its international trade relations to be reinforced by more substantial defense negotiations involving the USA with the ASEAN nations to prevail in maritime security in the Southeast Asian nations. Considering Bangladesh, a geopolitically important area, Japan and China have been trying to offer assistance in multiple sectors, such as infrastructure, projects, education, advanced transport, and technology. In this study, the researcher will conduct a comparative analysis highlighting Bangladesh’s significance as a Southeast Asian nation following qualitative methodology resulting in some recommendations for Bangladesh to strategically balance its relationship with Japan and China while focusing on economic development. 

Keywords: Diplomatic Strategy, Japan, China, South and Southeast Asia, Bangladesh.