The Trinity of Aid, Trade, and Investment: The Reemergence of a Japanese-Style Development Term as China Rises

This chapter analyzes the historical roots of the term “the trinity” (sanmi-ittai) in the context of development cooperation, which refers to the combined implementation of aid, investment, and trade. Specifically, it examines how the interpretation of the trinity in development practice has evolved over time. While the trinity received little attention in Japan during the 1980s when it was first introduced as an economic cooperation policy, it became a subject of considerable debate due to China’s emergence as a prominent aid donor. This chapter examines the chronology of how the term emerged in the 1980s in Japan, how it was transmitted to China during the same period, and how it is currently being discussed today, to reveal the issues and perspectives within its current meaning, which is increasingly centered around the establishment of mutually beneficial relationships.