Japan's ambassador to Malaysia Makio Miyagawa said Japan has little qualms about China taking on a leading role in this region, save for a few reservations.

Miyagawa cited the "flying geese formation" to describe the dynamics between the roles of China and Japan in this region.

“A Chinese professor said to me that Japan may not accept the domination of China's economy. I said 'no' to his comment.

“The reason is that in the flying geese formation, the birds are supposed to take turns being in front when they are healthy and fit, but fall back when they are tired.

“So Japan can propose to fly behind the Chinese. In this way, the flock of geese can fly for a long time before they have to stop and rest,” Miyagawa said in his speech at a dinner event organised by several Rotary Clubs at the Royal Lake Club in Kuala Lumpur last night.

The flying geese formation, he explained, is aerodynamically sound, as the formation serves to conserve flying energy effectively and it makes it easy for birds to keep track of everyone in the group to make sure no one falls behind.

“(So) we are very happy to go along with China, but we have a bit of reservations,” he said.

One of their reservations, Miyagawa said, is the concern that China may seek to dominate weaker economies and eradicate growing economies in other parts of Asia.

Second, he said, is if China intends to dominate other Asian countries through its military strength.

“China is advocating the One Belt, One Road policy. I think it is good that they have been spending money on the development of Asia, rather than spending money on their military build-up.

“But one reservation again, is if China creates a big accumulated debt (for Asia), and this is used as an influential power for China, this is not a very healthy thing,” Miyagawa said.

He also explained that China and Japan play different roles in Malaysia and the Asean region as a whole.

Most of the investment from China, he said, has been in property whereas Japan's investment focuses on manufacturing and high-technology industry.

While China has overtaken Japan as Malaysia and Asean's biggest trading partner, he said Japan still ranks first in terms of investments in this region.