View All Analysis | Sept. 17, 2018, 8:57 a.m.

Browse our analysis section for news and articles on topics such as China's Belt and Road Initiative (OBOR), the Competing Visions of Japan, India, and other regional powers, and the stakes for U.S. policy.

Xi, Abe to Talk Infrastructure at Summit | Sept. 13, 2018, 11:50 a.m.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe met at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Russia this week. Both leaders decided to further pursue collaboration on infrastructure projects during Abe’s visit to Beijing next month, the first bilateral visit by a Japanese Prime Minister to China since 2011.

Japan Requests Record Infrastructure Budget | Sept. 7, 2018, 10:43 a.m.

Japan's infrastructure and transport ministry is seeking a record-high 19 percent budgetary increase for the upcoming fiscal year to fund domestic infrastructure improvements. The upgrades are expected to help cope with natural disasters such as typhoons, torrential rains and earthquakes.

Japan, China to Cooperate on Infrastructure | Sept. 4, 2018, 9:10 a.m.

Japan and China are moving ahead with plans to cooperate on overseas infrastructure projects, with a public-private committee scheduled to hold its first meeting in Beijing.

Malaysia Halts China-Backed Projects | Aug. 21, 2018, 9:24 a.m.

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir claims that Chinese leaders have accepted his government's request to stop three China-backed infrastructure projects due to debt concerns.

China, Japan To Cooperate on BRI | Aug. 3, 2018, 9:06 a.m.

China and Japan agreed Thursday to encourage deeper economic cooperation in the private sector and to launch a public-private committee to advance joint infrastructure development in the region as part of Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative.

Japan Flood Damages Major Infrastructure | July 20, 2018, 9:28 a.m.

Japan estimates it will cost $2.39 billion to rebuild critical infrastructure destroyed in floods earlier this month, straining an already overstretched government budget.

Japanese Companies Join BRI | July 16, 2018, 8:18 a.m.

Japanese companies look to the Belt and Road Initiative as a source of new business opportunities, participating in construction, logistics, shipping, and energy projects.

AIIB, ADB Point to Cooperation | June 13, 2018, 9:52 a.m.

Executives from the ADB and AIIB converged on The Future of Asia conference in Tokyo to discuss how their banks complement, rather than compete with one another.

Malaysia Seeks Japanese Yen to Reduce Infrastructure Debt | June 12, 2018, 10:46 a.m.

Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad has asked Japan for yen-denominated loans as Kuala Lumpur seeks to pare down its hefty debt load of $272 billion, 80 percent of total GDP, which has been blamed on the previous government for corruption and lavish spending on infrastructure projects.

Japan Aims to Boost Infrastructure Exports | June 8, 2018, 9:13 a.m.

Japan will offer new loan terms to more businesses with an eye toward its 2020 target of $272 billion in infrastructure exports. The new government infrastructure policy expands low-interest loan eligibility to businesses where Japanese companies have stakes as low as 20 percent.

Southeast Asia Financial Integration and Infrastructure Investment | May 30, 2018, 9:52 a.m.

This report highlights recommendations on how the U.S. might effectively engage Southeast Asia's infrastructure challenges to foster greater stability and financial integration in the region.

Malaysia Cancels Kuala Lumpur-Singapore HSR | May 30, 2018, 9:46 a.m.

Malaysia has canceled plans for a $14.8 billion high-speed rail project that would have connected Kuala Lumpur with Singapore.

Vietnam Looks To Japan For Quality Infrastructure | May 25, 2018, 10:41 a.m.

Vietnamese president Tran Dai Quang said he expects Japan will help Vietnam improve the quality of his country's infrastructure through the use of private funds, public-private partnerships, and build-operate-transfer schemes.

Japan Helps Build Indonesian Port | May 22, 2018, 10 a.m.

The port of Patimban, estimated to cost $3 billion, is going to be financed by a Japanese loan and may be built by a Japanese-Indonesian team. The port is envisioned to become a transport hub and alleviate problems for Japanese companies operating in the West Java industrial park.

Japan’s Investors Eye Infrastructure in Myanmar | May 17, 2018, 9:31 a.m.

Japan's businesses were approved to devote a record $1.47 billion to Myanmar in this fiscal year, including investments in infrastructure.

China's Premier Invites Japanese Businesses to Join BRI | May 11, 2018, 10:33 a.m.

During his four-day visit to Japan, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang touted China's Belt and Road Initiative at a reception hosted by Japanese business leaders, inviting businesses to join Belt and Road projects and to promote bilateral cooperation.

China, Japan To Bolster Joint Infrastructure Exports | May 10, 2018, 9:55 a.m.

In a meeting between Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, Japan and China have agreed to set up a forum to bolster joint exports in infrastructure.

ADB Pressed on Belt & Road, Quality Infrastructure | May 7, 2018, 10:10 a.m.

The Asian Development Bank hosted its annual meeting on May 3, during which representatives from China and Japan lobbied the bank about future lending strategies.

Uncertainty for Japan's Nuclear Infrastructure Export Ambitions | April 26, 2018, 12:05 p.m.

Japan's infrastructure export ambitions face an uncertain future following a move by Japanese trading house Itochu to pull funding for the construction of a nuclear power plant in Turkey. Itochu's departure was driven by a sharp increase in safety-related costs following the Fukushima nuclear disaster, which caused the estimated total project cost to balloon from two to five trillion yen.

Japan Pledges Conditional BRI Support | April 17, 2018, 10:31 a.m.

Following a high-level economic dialogue in Tokyo this week, Japan has said that it will support China’s flagship foreign policy initiative, the Belt and Road, provided that it prioritizes the fiscal health of developing countries.

Japan, India, U.S. Fund Indo-Pacific Infrastructure | April 10, 2018, 10:28 a.m.

Japan, the U.S., and India have agreed to work together on infrastructure projects in the Indo-Pacific region focusing on South and Southeast Asian nations such as Nepal, Bangladesh, and Myanmar. The trilateral is calling for a more transparent and sustainable approach in line with international standards to counter China’s infrastructure development under its Belt and Road initiative.

China's elusive infrastructure investment in Philippines | April 4, 2018, 9:21 a.m.

Japan is the leading infrastructure investor in the Philippines despite significant commitments from China. According to the Nikkei Asian Review, Japan outspent China on infrastructure by a factor of nearly 20:1 during Duterte’s first year in office while Chinese investment has largely gone to industries such as tourism, real estate, casinos, and mineral resources.

China’s Maritime Silk Road | April 3, 2018, 9 a.m.

Seven CSIS experts unpack the economic and geostrategic implications of China’s infrastructure development across the Indo-Pacific region under the Maritime Silk Road.

Japan Loans $1.4bn to India for Infrastructure | March 30, 2018, 9:59 a.m.

Japan will lend India up to $1.4 billion for projects such as a subway in Mumbai.

What Is an Economic Corridor? | March 27, 2018, 9 a.m.

As Asia’s powers advance plans for a number of economic corridors to connect the continent, it is important to understand what exactly an economic corridor entails.

Japanese Logistic Firm Teams With Chinese Port Operator | March 14, 2018, 9:30 a.m.

Nippon Express has agreed to partner with Shanghai International Port Group in an effort to broaden its reach beyond the big coastal cities in China.

Japanese Freight Service Joins BRI | March 12, 2018, 9:03 a.m.

Japanese trading house Itochu is launching a freight transport service linking Japan and Europe via China.

Bid-Rigging Arrests for Japan Maglev Project | March 5, 2018, 9:49 a.m.

Japan's big four contractors are accused of bid-rigging for a planned magnetic levitation train line in an apparent effort to protect earnings amid pressure to cut costs.

Chinese Demand Fuels Japanese Construction Equipment Manufacturing | Feb. 28, 2018, 9:09 a.m.

Robust international demand, especially from China, is expected to fuel Japanese manufacturing of construction machinery, robots, and machine tools in 2018.

Asian Lenders Compete in Infrastructure Financing | Feb. 23, 2018, 9:34 a.m.

Abe Seeks Economic Stimulus From Infrastructure | Feb. 21, 2018, 9:11 a.m.

As Japan looks past the anticipated economic boost from the 2020 Olympic games in Tokyo, Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe is turning to infrastructure investment to buoy fiscal stimulus and economic growth beyond 2020.

Greece Looks to Diversify Infrastructure Partners | Feb. 15, 2018, 10:54 a.m.

Greek Deputy PM says that Athens wants closer ties with other Asian countries too, not just China.

Widodo Woos Japan on Infrastructure | Feb. 14, 2018, 8:53 a.m.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo is working to strengthen ties with Japan in hopes of speeding infrastructure construction projects and showing progress ahead of the 2019 presidential election.

Taiwan to Drop Nuclear Power by 2025 | Feb. 12, 2018, 10:18 a.m.

Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen hopes to wean the island off nuclear power by 2025. To reach its goal, Taiwan is investing in renewable energy sources including a $827 million deal with Japanese company Hitachi for wind turbines.

Abe's Russia Trip to Push Infrastructure | Feb. 5, 2018, 10:12 a.m.

The Japanese government has compiled infrastructure development scheme proposals for Vladivostok ahead of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's scheduled visit to Russia in May, Nikkei reports.

BRI Pushes China to Indonesia’s No. 2 Investor | Feb. 1, 2018, 9:31 a.m.

An uptick in lending for Belt and Road infrastructure projects in Indonesia led China to overtake Japan as the country’s second largest foreign investor in 2017.

Mitsubishi Increases Infrastructure Investment | Jan. 30, 2018, 10:03 a.m.

Mitsubishi Corporation has launched one of the largest infrastructure funds in Japan to bolster its investments in domestic infrastructure.

Japan's Infrastructure Strategy in Pakistan | Jan. 26, 2018, 11:14 a.m.

A strategy by Japan toward Pakistan and other recipients of large-scale Chinese investment could create opportunities for Japanese companies and present a Japanese alternative to China's state-led development model.

Duterte on Infrastructure: "Build, Build, Build" | Jan. 24, 2018, 10:25 a.m.

Trucks and bulldozers are clearing the way this week for a 38-kilometer stretch of train tracks that is one of the Philippines largest infrastructure projects under Duterte’s “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure program.

The Indo-Japanese Pivot to Africa | Jan. 23, 2018, 8:29 a.m.

India and Japan's joint vision for an Asia-Africa Growth Corridor (AAGC) could provide a strategic platform to compete with China, however, the plan currently lacks detail and will need to demonstrate commitment and the ability to deliver on both quality and speed.

Abe Urges Infrastructure Cooperation with China | Jan. 22, 2018, 10:53 a.m.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says Japan will cooperate with China to meet growing demand for infrastructure development in Asia.

Thailand Slows High-Speed Rail Aspirations | Jan. 18, 2018, 10:48 a.m.

The Prime Minister of Thailand has instructed transport officials to reduce the maximum speed of the 670-kilometer Thai-Japanese high-speed rail.

Japan Streamlines Infrastructure Privatization | Jan. 4, 2018, 11:12 a.m.

Japan intends to cut the red tape faced by local governments that wish to privatize their infrastructure.

18 Projects to Watch in 2018 | Dec. 22, 2017, 9:21 a.m.

Reconnecting Asia is tracking developments across a vast landmass that includes 60 percent of the global economy. Every day, new infrastructure projects are announced, some are advanced, and others encounter obstacles. Here is a selection of the top projects to watch in 2018.

Myanmar Expands Thilawa Port | Dec. 22, 2017, 8:12 a.m.

Myanmar's rapid increase in trade is pushing the expansion of Thilawa port with the support from Japanese government.

Bidding Opens for KL-Singapore HSR | Dec. 20, 2017, 9:50 a.m.

Bidding for the high-speed railway project connecting Singapore and Kuala Lumpur kicked off on Wednesday, in what is shaping up to be an intense battle between Chinese and Japanese contractors.

Japan and Myanmar to Cooperate on Infrastructure | Dec. 14, 2017, 9:15 a.m.

At a meeting in Tokyo, the leaders of Myanmar and Japan agreed to further cooperation in the areas of urban development, transportation, and power infrastructure in Myanmar.

Japan, Bangladesh Explore Infrastructure Deal | Dec. 8, 2017, 9:23 a.m.

Japan has received preferential negotiating rights from the government of Bangladesh to build highways under an exclusive arrangement.

Japan to Support China's BRI Projects | Dec. 6, 2017, 10:45 a.m.

The Japanese government intends to help finance projects under the Belt and Road Initiative.