So now Japan is entering the bidding war to court favour in Southeast Asia; never mind that they are playing an increasingly large part in propping up rubbish governments. Don't they have better things to do with their people's money like, oh I dunno, fixing up things after the devastating earthquake.
TOKYO—Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda said Saturday that Japan will provide five Asian countries in the Mekong region with 600 billion yen ($7.4 billion) in official development assistance over the next three years to help build up infrastructure.
The five countries are Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar.
Mr. Noda unveiled the plan at a joint news conference with the leaders of the five countries after the Mekong-Japan summit in Tokyo.
The agreement comes as Japan looks to raise its profile with the five nations to strengthen its economic ties and counter the rising influence of China in the fast-growing, resource-rich region.
~Wall Street Journal Asia Edition
$7.4 Billion should keep the ruling tyrants and bullies of Southeast Asia happy, though.
Just don't expect much of it to trickle down to where its really needed.
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