Japanese companies’ investments in Southeast Asia surged last year to almost three times the amount invested in China

The Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), a government agency, said (citing the relations between Beijing and Tokyo souring in 2012 and Chinese labour costs rising):

• Japanese companies invested 2.33 trillion yen ($22.8 billion) in Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam last year, compared with 887 billion yen in China
• Investments doubled in Southeast Asia and fell 18 percent in China over 2012 and China’s waning attraction is likely to continue as the ratio of companies planning expansion there fell to a record low of below 55 percent

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