Japan ups ante to re-exert influence

Itoh: ‘Japan’s corporate savings is the highest among the developed nations. We have not used our savings yet.’

JAPAN’s Ambassador to Malaysia Dr Makio Miyagawa was adamant that his country “is not finished yet” when he was inundated with questions at a function last year, amid an incessant flow of news on the Belt and Road initiative and China’s expanding influence to reshape the world.

Tokyo’s economic influence in the region has been eclipsed by the stronger presence of China’s investments in Malaysia and other Asean nations after President Xi Jinping launched his ambitious economic-cum-diplomatic initiative in 2013.