Table of Contents

Introduction 1. Central Asia on Japan’s Diplomatic Agenda: Security, Resources, and Humanitarianism 2. Silk Road Diplomacy of the DPJ cabinets: Continuity, Inertia And Change 3. Japan’s Aid in the New Silk Road: Developmentalism, Securitisation and Likely Prototype for Belt and Road? 4. Energy Silk Road: Anticipation and Adaption in Japan’s Resource Diplomacy 5. Japan, China and Asian Connectivity: Competition, Cooperation and the Weaponisation of Infrastructure Finance? Conclusion

About the Author

Nikolay Murashkin is a visiting fellow at the Griffith Asia Institute and a sessional lecturer at the School of Political Sciences and International Studies, University of Queensland, Australia. His research interests include Japan’s economic statecraft and politics of connectivity infrastructure and finance in the Indo-Pacific and Eurasia.