The government plans to revise the Development Cooperation Charter, which sets guidelines for Japan's official development assistance (ODA) to developing countries, in the first half of next year with a focus on economic security, The Yomiuri Shimbun has learned.
According to sources, the government intends to make strategic use of ODA by specifying its stance to seek a free and open Indo-Pacific and strengthen economic security with an eye on China, which is trying to expand its influence over developing countries through massive loans.
A panel of experts will be established soon, and draft revisions will be drawn up by the end of this year, the sources said. If the revisions are made, they will represent the first changes to the charter in eight years.
