CHINESE AND JAPANESE MEGA-REGIONAL INITIATIVES IN THE INDO-PACIFIC REGION

This article discusses the impact of mega-regional initiatives put forward by China and Japan on changing the distribution of power in the Asian region. It proves that mega-regional projects led to the geopolitical transformation of Asia and, as a consequence, to the emergence of a new geopolitical entity, i.e. the IndoPacific region. The results of the research give the understanding that the competition between Japan and China, which led to a shift of spheres of influence and the redistribution of resources and markets, has caused the need for mega-regional initiatives.