In the Indo-Pacific, the Japan-US-Indo-Australian quadrilateral cooperation—known as “the Quad”—has risen to prominence amid growing geopolitical strains. But even as the Quad has come to the forefront in the region, questions remain about how effective the group can be in the face of multiplying issues. To better understand the challenges faced, we have brought together experts from each country.
Following the constructive Japan-US Summit between PM Suga and President Biden on April 16, the first webinar in the Asia Undercurrent series will be the “Future of the Japan-US Alliance: A united front to realize a Free and Open Indo-Pacific?” This installment will focus on one of the region’s most important and enduring bilateral relations as well as how the leaders of both countries can continue working together to take on mutual challenges.
Japan has avoided severe lockdowns in favor of voluntary self-restraint measures. The result has been the lowest level of COVID-related deaths (230 per million) among all the nations in the OECD. Even large-scale events such as the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics took place with no upsurge in cases. There have been some downsides, however. With a near total ban on immigration and tourism, foreign companies in Japan have seen their plans disrupted and the previously fast-growing tourism sector has suffered from a severe downturn. To explore the story behind Japan’s COVID countermeasures, we brought together a panel of experts to better understand what the world could learn from Japan’s experience.
Upon taking office, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida unveiled to Japan and the world a “New Form of Capitalism” under which wage increases and renewed growth will benefit all. However, the road to realizing this “New Form of Capitalism” is fraught with issues ranging from policy issues to trade and the pandemic that has struck all nations. In order to understand what this new policy mean for Japan and the wider world, we are joined by a team of distinguished experts and insiders including Aiko Lane, Ken Shibusawa, and Noah Sneider with Robert A. Feldman as moderator for a dynamic and in-depth discussion.
Japan’s transition out of the global pandemic and into a stage of recovery is being ushered in by Kishida Fumio, a new Japanese leader. However, the playing field is fraught with simmering tensions and evolving global agendas. Joined by a team of distinguished experts and insiders, we delved into the new administration’s foreign policy, including its prospects for bolstering international cooperation in trade, defense and supply chain issues amid regional tensions.
The experts from around the globe discussed the new imperatives for national economic security, the prospects for bi-lateral and multi-lateral free trade, as well as how things once as mundane as stable supply lines and guaranteed intellectual property had all become potential weapons in a new, evolving conflict.
Despite the Indo-Pacific region’s vibrant growth, one challenge in particular has vexed the global community since the end of the Second World War: the issue of the North Korea and its belligerent and often troubled relationship with its neighbors in North Asia as well as the international community as a whole. Bringing together a global team of experts from around the world, we will discuss and debate about the current dangers proposed by this aspiring nuclear power as well as how the global community can effectively engage and counter North Korea while maintaining peace and stability.
Asia Undercurrent Webinar Series Quad Over Troubled Waters: What challenges await the Quad in the Indo-Pacific?
The Indo-Pacific is arguably one of the world’s most important geographic areas while it is also rife with potential conflict and ongoing frictions. Against this background, a partnership of liberal democracies known as “the Quad” has risen to prominence. Following our first webinar on the Japan-US alliance, we are holding the second session in our Asia Undercurrent series with CSIS’s Dr. Michael Green as moderator.
Here we will look at the increasing importance of this gather of like-minded nations and what the future holds for the Quad in the Indo-Pacific and global geopolitics as a whole.
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