Japan welcomes Mekong leaders in jostle for influence

"The Japanese government plans to offer loans to cover part of the cost,"

So the only way the Japanese can sell products and services in SE Asia is if the Japanese govt steps in and subsidizes them?

Jeff

They all do that. Foreign aid is always linked to buy our stuff, not theirs.

"They all do that. Foreign aid is always linked to buy our stuff, not theirs."

No it isn't. The OECD has many times criticized Japan for its "tied aid" practices. With that rail project, I don't see any mention of open tenders. Rather, it's in terms of "Japanese companies will do it. Period." So when the Thais later need parts, upgrades, services, they will have to phone Tokyo...and pay monopolistic prices.

Other countries arent nearly as manipulative like the Japanese. For instance, when the United States provided Syrian rebels vehicles as assistance, they gave them Toyota Land Cruisers (which the ISIS terrorists have since acquired. LOL,), because they were the best for the job, not because they were the best for corporate America.

Many Asian countries are trying as best as they can not to become Chinese Vassal States. China's bullying and bribing tactics are relentless.

When China gives "relentless" aid etc. , it is jealously labelled as "bribes/bullying". China has tremendous resources due to its achievements/size, so they can give large amounts. It's double standards to single out China. If China doesn't give, the USA/Japan etc complain China not participating as a world leader. USA itself has for decades influenced Asia and the rest of the world with both money, aid and military power, and still today even uses the threat of sanctions and military action against those who are not in tune with American-led "values". Do you see China doing such threats/bullying? China gives only aid/money to these nations, and of course it expects some gratitude in return just like USA/EU/Japan have been doing for years. In any case , if you deem China's tremendous aid as so disgusting and vile snd "bribes " (as if Japan has not been guilty herself too for such practices for decades), then WHY these nations openly accept China's help and responsible assistance and why the world/UN not stopping China but keep taking her money? (Even Japanese prople, who look down on China enviously, are double-faced as they hypocritically bad-mouth the Chinese as "immoral" (without examining their own nature and history) but so HAPPILY yet immorally are welcoming huge huge huge numbers of Chinese tourists and their huge huge huge cash spending which the news claims as sustaining)/helping and keeping the Japanese economy afloat when Japanese people themselves won't/can't help their own economy.)

alright alright oh.. what?