Moreover, the events will take place in a climate of increased geopolitical competition, where China’s and Japan’s individual relationships with Africa should be seen in the context of large geopoliticised groupings – the G7 group of industrialised (and mostly Western) powers in the case of Japan, and the BRICS2 group of emerging powers, of which China is a key member. [...] In addition, the Japanese government funds centres dedicated to kaizen (the Japanese philosophy of gradual and continual improvement of industrial processes – a key innovation that propelled the global prominence of firms like Toyota) and monozukuri-focused workshops (manufacturing with a specific focus on the overlap between artisanal and industrial processes, aimed at raising the quality of fina. [...] The Green Growth Initiative includes supporting feasibility studies and investment in the green energy sector, especially in geothermal power generation, sustainably produced hydrogen fuel for heavy industry and battery storage.22 In addition, the African Development Bank signed a cooperation agreement with the Japanese government to provide a total of $5 billion for a range of development project. [...] About 73% of the world’s cobalt extraction takes place in the DRC, and Chinese entities now control 15 of the 19 major cobalt mines in the country.43 In addition to extraction, about 80% of the world’s cobalt refining occurs in China. [...] Copyright is vested in the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) and the authors, and no part may be reproduced in whole or in part without the express permission, in writing, of the publisher.
- Pages
- 18
- Published in
- South Africa
Table of Contents
- Executive summary 2
- Introduction 2
- JapanAfrica engagement in context 3
- Japans engagement with Africa has long been dominated by ODA 3
- Certain aspects of Japanese engagement also echo those of China 4
- Japans emerging priorities in the context of strategic competition 5
- While JapanAfrica relations are characterised by constancy Japan is also promoting new forms of cooperation that arguably reflect G7 responses to Chinas transformative role on the continent 5
- Infrastructure and renewable energy 6
- As China faces growing trade barriers in Global North markets it is focusing more conclusively on the Global South 6
- Rare earth and critical minerals 9
- One of the strongest emerging areas of engagement between Japan and Africa is critical minerals 9
- Geopolitical attention is also being directed at critical minerals 10
- The rapid consolidation of different Chinese entities control over key critical mineral sectors in Africa has raised concerns in the US and its allies 11
- These forms of engagement are not explicitly military or geopolitical in nature. However their geopolitical significance lies in how they are framed and contextualised 13
- Conclusion 14
- While Japan has long maintained a development-focused presence in Africa the Japanese government is increasingly interested in broadening this presence 15
- Author 17
- Acknowledgment 17
- About SAIIA 17
