Economics

China No Match for Japan in Southeast Asia Infrastructure Race

  • Japan has pending infrastructure projects worth $367 billion
  • Vietnam is major focus of Japan’s investment in region

A bridge stands under construction in Vietnam.

Photographer: Yen Duong/Bloomberg
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Japan is still winning the Southeast Asia infrastructure race against China, with pending projects worth almost one and a half times its rival, according to the latest data from Fitch Solutions.

Japanese-backed projects in the region’s six biggest economies -- Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam -- are valued at $367 billion, the figures show. China’s tally is $255 billion.