This book will explore the reorientation of the foreign policy direction of the Caribbean from traditional partners in the western hemisphere towards partners in the Asia-Pacific region. In particular, it will examine the Caribbean’s interest in increasing its engagement with China and Japan and will also investigate the opportunities and challenges for Caribbean states to deepen relations with these two countries. Opportunities include economic assistance, investments, diversification of trading partners and infrastructural development. However, with these benefits are disadvantages which relate to certain conditionalities attached to economic assistance, a widening trade deficit and on amore domestic level, challenges to regional integration which can hinder the extent and direction of these relationships. The book will also examine the main motivations behind China and Japan’s interest in the Caribbean region, premised on the argument that they are based on economic development, political security and global status. Case studies will be presented examining inter alia,the “One China Policy” in the region. As China continues to rise to power, Japan has been increasing its activities in a bid to stay relevant regionally and internationally. In examining the Caribbean’s engagement with China and Japan, a principally qualitative approach is employed by using case studies which entails the in-depth exploration of events, activities, and processes. Case studies of two Caribbean countries, Jamaica and Grenada and their engagement with China and Japan will be presented.

Kavita Johnson lectures in International Relations and Political Science at The University of the West Indies, Mona in Jamaica.  She completed her PhD at the University of Tsukuba, Japan.