Why Delay the Inevitable: Why the AIIB Matters to Canada’s Future

Authors

  • Eugene Beaulieu University of Calgary
  • Wendy Dobson University of Toronto

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.11575/sppp.v8i0.42516

Abstract

Yesterday was the deadline to join the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) as a founding member. Once again Canada is on the sidelines as Asia and most of the rest of the world moves forward while Canada watches. When Chinese President Xi Jinping announced plans for the AIIB at the APEC summit in Indonesia in 2013 and launched the initiative in Beijing at the China-hosted APEC summit a year later, who would have predicted that such an idea would cause an international furor. The new Bank has garnered significant headlines for two reasons. One is American opposition to the China-led Bank; and two is that some see it as a rival to the World Bank and other multilateral banks. The official U.S. position is that the AIIB is a rival to these institutions and that the funds would be better channeled through the World Bank and the Asia Development Bank. We argue that the AIIB is a welcome Chinese initiative, in line with American calls for China to become a ‘responsible stakeholder’ in the international system. The AIIB will become a multilateral development bank that finances programs addressing huge infrastructure deficits in the Asian region. Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, the smaller and newer members of the ten-country Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), for example, are emerging from years of economic and political isolation to join the region’s economy. Connecting them to each other and their larger neighbours, including China and India, requires major investments to create modern transportation corridors and other infrastructure, including electronic connectivity. Infrastructure development is also integral to a shared vision of integration of the region’s economies to be an engine of global growth. We also argue that The AIIB reflects a world where the majority of global GDP will soon be produced in Asia, and where the infrastructure needs in the region are enormous. Canada has much to offer in terms of skills and expertise in building infrastructure. For Canada it is important to look west, as well as south and east in this century. Failure to join the AIIB would be another failure to make inroads in Asia.

References

Mike Callaghan (2014) “The role of international cooperation in increasing infrastructure investment,” JASSA, The Finsia Journal of Applied Finance, Issue 3, 2014. p. 43-49.

Evan Feigenbaum, 2015. “The U.S. must adapt to Asia’s new order”, East Asia Forum, March 22 available at www.eastasiaforum.org.

Hui Feng “Stakes are high for Australia in Asian infrastructure bank,” The Conversation, March 29, 2015. http://theconversation.com/stakes-are-high-for-australia-in-asian-infrastructure-bank-39247

Alistair Gale and Rob Taylor “Decision to Join China-Led Bank Tests South Korea’s Ties to U.S.” The Wall Street Journal, March 24, 2015. http://www.wsj.com/articles/decision-to-join-aiib-tests-south-koreasties-to-u-s-1427185565

Stephany Griffith-Jones, David Griffith-Jones and Dagmar Hertova (2008) “Enhancing the Role of Regional Development Banks,” G-24 Discussion Paper Series. http://unctad.org/en/Docs/ gdsmdpg2420081_en.pdf

Jin Kai (2015) “What the AIIB Means for the US-China Power Transition: Is Washington determined to keep China isolated?” The Diplomat, March 27, 2015. http://thediplomat.com/2015/03/what-the-aiibmeans-for-the-us-china-power-transition/

Matthew Miller and Brenda Goh “IMF, ADB add to supporters for China-led development bank,” Reuters, March 22, 2015. http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/03/22/us-china-finance-ministry-adbidUSKBN0MI03I20150322

Yuen Pau Woo (2014) “A Whole-of-ASEAN Strategy that is Greater than the Sum of Its Parts: Unsolicited Advice for the soon-to-be-appointed Canadian Ambassador to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations,” manuscript. Downloaded March 31, 2015. http://www.yuenpauwoo.com/ uploads/3/9/0/1/39018137/canaseancicnov2014.pdf

“Seoul’s clout in AIIB is still being negotiated,” Korea Joongang Daily, March 28, 2015 http:// koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=3002439

“U.S. Allies, Lured by China’s Bank” New York Times, by The Editorial Board, March 20, 2015. http:// www.nytimes.com/2015/03/20/opinion/us-allies-lured-by-chinas-bank.html?ref=topics

“China ends guessing game on AIIB,” China Spectator, March 26, 2015. http://www.businessspectator.com.au/news/2015/3/26/china/china-ends-guessing-game-aiib

“China Quashes Speculation on Base for Beijing-Led Development Bank,” The Wall Street Journal, March 25, 2015. http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2015/03/25/china-quashes-speculation-on-base-forbeijing-led-development-bank/?KEYWORDS=AIIB

Downloads

Published

2015-04-02

Issue

Section

Communiqués