China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) proposed by President Xi Jinping in 2013 is perhaps one of the most ambitious visions promoted by one country. It has met considerable criticism from politicians and policy-makers, journalists, analysts, and scholars. These criticisms include accusations of pursuing debt-trap diplomacy to gain concessions from countries participating in BRI. Together with growing Chinese military strength and assertiveness in the South and East China Seas, BRI is being framed as an instrument deployed by China to build up its global dominance. However, the fear of China gaining unrestricted control over other countries through BRI is unfounded when looking at Japan’s provisions of infrastructure through its Official Development Assistance (ODA) since 1954.

Raymond Yamamoto is Assistant Professor at the Department of Global Studies, Aarhus University, Denmark, where he teaches courses on contemporary Japanese politics and International Relations of the Asia-Pacific. He obtained his PhD degree from Hamburg University in 2015. His doctoral dissertation project on the “normalization” of Japan’s foreign policy received funding from Japan Foundation and German Institute for Japanese Studies (DIJ). Before appointment at Aarhus University in 2017, he lived in Japan for several years working as a specially appointed researcher at Osaka University. Currently, he is an affiliate scholar at the East-West Center and visiting fellow at the Pacific Forum. His recent research project focuses on the critical role of Japan’s Official Development Assistance in Japan’s post-war foreign policy. 

Open to the public

Limited Seating

Please RSVP by Wednesday, July 31: 944-7111 or

[email protected]

Paid parking is available on the UHM campus.

China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) proposed by President Xi Jinping in 2013 is perhaps one of the most ambitious visions promoted by one country. It has met considerable criticism from politicians and policy-makers, journalists, analysts, and scholars. These criticisms include accusations of pursuing debt-trap diplomacy to gain concessions from countries participating in BRI. Together with growing Chinese military strength and assertiveness in the South and East China Seas, BRI is being framed as an instrument deployed by China to build up its global dominance. However, the fear of China gaining unrestricted control over other countries through BRI is unfounded when looking at Japan’s provisions of infrastructure through its Official Development Assistance (ODA) since 1954.

Raymond Yamamoto is Assistant Professor at the Department of Global Studies, Aarhus University, Denmark, where he teaches courses on contemporary Japanese politics and International Relations of the Asia-Pacific. He obtained his PhD degree from Hamburg University in 2015. His doctoral dissertation project on the “normalization” of Japan’s foreign policy received funding from Japan Foundation and German Institute for Japanese Studies (DIJ). Before appointment at Aarhus University in 2017, he lived in Japan for several years working as a specially appointed researcher at Osaka University. Currently, he is an affiliate scholar at the East-West Center and visiting fellow at the Pacific Forum. His recent research project focuses on the critical role of Japan’s Official Development Assistance in Japan’s post-war foreign policy. 

Open to the public

Limited Seating

Please RSVP by Wednesday, July 31: 944-7111 or

[email protected]

Paid parking is available on the UHM campus.