Outgunned by China, Japan Plays Catch-up

Two-day conference will be held in Tanzania between Japan and 50 African countries. However, Tokyo doesn't have diplomatic presence in a dozen of these countries.

Out of the 53 nations in the continent, Japan only 31 embassies, while its much larger and emerging China has 46 or 48 embassies, said a spokesman at the Ministry of Foreign Affair in Tokyo.

Japan's Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada will step out on his first African trip since taking office, while his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi has been all over Africa, the most recent is a four nation tour in January. While Yang's trips were mostly brief ones in each stop, Okada will be only going to South Africa before heading to Dar es Salaam.

Japan has sinced vowed to catch up, the nation announced to double aid to $1.8 billion in Africa by 2012. The amount now stands at $1.65 billion.

The aid money is important, however, the personnel on the ground and business activities will also decide who gets the influence in Africa.