Japans Humanitarian Aid Toward Myanmar After the 2021 Coup

This open access book delves into Japan's humanitarian aid efforts in Myanmar following the military coup of February 2021. As Myanmar faces political upheaval and growing humanitarian challenges, Japan's response has been notable, yet intricate, maneuvering through obstacles created by the Myanmar military's weaponization of aid. Utilizing document analysis, semi-structured interviews, and fieldwork conducted at the Myanmar-Thailand border, this book explores four key channels through which Japan delivers humanitarian assistance: UN organizations, Myanmar-based NGOs, Thailand-based NGOs, and Bangladesh-based NGOs. Each channel is examined in detail, highlighting the strategies employed, obstacles faced, and impact of Japan's contributions on the ground. This study illuminates the precarious equilibrium between delivering crucial aid and addressing the political circumstances that hinder humanitarian endeavors. It also prompts important discussions about the morality of providing assistance in conflict-ridden areas and the responsibilities of donor nations in upholding their human rights. This book is ideal for academics, decision-makers, and humanitarian professionals, and not only enlightens readers about Japan's distinctive position in Myanmar, but also contributes to wider debates on international aid dynamics in politically fraught environments.

This book is open access, which means that you have free and unlimited access Analyzes Japan's unique humanitarian strategies in Myanmar's post-coup crisis Examines the military's weaponization of humanitarian aid through four distinct channels of aid delivery Discusses the ethical implications surrounding humanitarian assistance and the broader concept of human security

Autorentext

Ryuji Hattori, b. 1968, PhD in Political Science (Kobe University, 1999), MA in International Relations (Johns Hopkins University, 2023), MA in in Human Security Studies (The University of Tokyo, 2025); Professor, Chuo University (2010 till date); Most recent book: After Terrorism: The U.S.Japan Alliance in the Post-9/11 Security Dilemma (State University of New York Press, 2025, forthcoming).

Tual Sawn Khai, is a RGC Postdoctoral Fellow at Lingnan University, Hong Kong, where he earned his PhD in Sociology and Social Policy. Currently, he is also a Visiting Fellow at the Australian National University and a Research Affiliate of the Refugee Law Initiative at the University of London. He was a Visiting Research Fellow at the University of Melbourne and a Visiting PhD fellow at the United Nations University International Institute for Global Health (UNU-IIGH) in Malaysia. His research focuses on the health and well-being of migrants, refugees, IDPs, conflict and humanitarian aid, statelessness, and climate change. His work appears in peer-reviewed journals such as Journal of Migration and Health, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Archives of Public Health, Frontiers in Public Health, International Journal of Social Welfare, Disability and Society, Journal of Burmese Studies, and Global Public Health. He is the author of Irregular Migration in Southeast Asia: Contemporary Barriers to Regularization and Healthcare (Routledge, 2025, forthcoming).

Inhalt

Table of Contents.- About the Authors.- Abbreviations.- List of Tables and Figures
Introduction.- Chapter 1 Humanitarian Assistance in Civil Wars and the Evaluation Criterion.- Chapter 2 Human Security in Myanmar.- Chapter 3 Navigating Aid Delivery Japan s Multifaceted Approach to Myanmar s Crisis.- Conclusion.- Appendix.- Interview.- Field Research in Thailand.- Reference.