Abstract

• Japanese aid assistance to Myanmar began since 1955 in the form of reparations. In the wake of Myanmar’s transition to democracy, Japan was responded more enthusiastically to Myanmar’s political transition and has forgiven unprecedentedly his percentage of Myanmar’s debt and allocated new large-scale official development assistance (ODA). Japan’s assistance is quite frequently provided in links with the economic sector to support economic development and stabilization which will lead to the country towards democratization in the long run. However, some ethnic minorities such as Karens and Mons are eager to have genuine federal autonomy and open political institutions. They argued that economic development can be accompanied by political development. In my paper, I intend to reveal the helpful role of Japanese aid assistance for Myanmar’s economic and political development in the transition period. I will be looking at Japanese ambitions for Myanmar’s development. I also intend to explore the reasons why some ethnic minorities in Myanmar are more enthusiastic in order to achieve political development than economic development. So, my paper highlights the eagerness of some ethnic minorities for political development although Japanese development assistance is helpful for Myanmar’s development at the time of Myanmar’s needs.