The sino-japanese 'faces of coin':impacts of the Official Development Assistance (1979-2022)

Abstract

The Official Development Assistance (ODA) mechanism was created with the aim of helping nations to improve the living conditions of the population. The provision of ODA, from one State to another, can be seen as a tool for genuine aid or as a means to political ends, seeking retribution or recognition. The Sino-Japanese relationship is an example of this case, as these countries have intertwined and complex economic and historical connections that ended up encouraging and, subsequently, affecting the supply of Japanese ODA to China. The research describes a) how the relations between the countries were before the signing of these agreements, b) Hans Morgenthau's vision about ODA, c) the Japanese model of ODA and the reasons for providing it, d) how was the development of the Sino-Japanese ODA and the obstacles encountered during its execution – among them disagreements regarding recognition, conflicts over history and the use of nationalist discourses that encouraged internal dissatisfaction between countries. Therefore, the Sino-Japanese case is interesting in view of the historical milestone of the conclusion of the ODA (1979-2022) and the specific situations that affected its development, agreeing with Morgenthau's idea about the 'theatre' involving the ODA, in addition to the way how the relationship between countries stands. In view of this, it is relevant to understand how these financing and assistance mechanisms between States are used, with their possible motivations, internal and external, and consequent frustrations.