Japan in 2022 Brookings Event

I had the pleasure of moderating a panel at the Japan in 2022 event co-organized by the Brookings Institution and the Japan-America Society of Washington DC. I was joined by Professor Mieko Nakabayashi (Waseda University), Professor Kay Shimizu (University of Pittsburgh), and Professor Yves Tiberghien (University of British Columbia) for a discussion on Japan’s domestic politics and economy.

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Podcast: Prospects for US-Japan-Europe Security Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific

I recently hosted a great conversation about the prospects for US-Japan-Europe security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region with Dr. Zack Cooper (Senior Fellow, American Enterprise Institute and Co-Director of the Alliance for Securing Democracy at The German Marshall Fund of the United States) and Dr. Garima Mohan (Fellow, Asia Program, The German Marshall Fund of the United States). In recent years, the world’s attention has shifted toward the Indo-Pacific. As concerns over the rise of China and other regional challenges have intensified, the US and Japan have taken steps to strengthen their security cooperation and Europe has also become more engaged, begging the question of how the three sides might work together on security issues. What factors are driving Europe’s recent involvement in the Indo-Pacific? Does Europe have a role to play in the Biden Administration’s Indo-Pacific strategy, or would it be better for European countries to focus their efforts on security issues closer to home? Will a change of leadership in Japan affect its prospects for cooperation with the US and Europe? What are the most promising issue areas for trilateral cooperation and coordination, and what challenges lie ahead? In this episode, we discuss these questions and more. The topic of this podcast originated in conversations at GMF’s Japan Trilateral Forum.

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New Publication: China’s Challenge to the Global Commons

“…China poses a challenge to the global commons because its actions reflect a pragmatic focus on national interest that disrupts more collaborative conceptions of their governance. However, instead of directly rejecting existing regimes, China has pursued a mixed strategy of complying when these regimes confer benefits and employing contestation or subversion when they conflict with its strategic aims.”

I’m pleased to share that my article “China’s Challenge to the Global Commons: Compliance, Contestation, and Subversion in the Maritime and Cyber Domains” has been published at International Relations. Read the full article

It is often predicted that rising powers such as China will seek to reshape the international order as they gain influence. Drawing on comparative analysis of the maritime and cyber domains, this article argues that China poses a challenge to the global commons because its actions reflect a pragmatic focus on national interest that disrupts more collaborative conceptions of their governance. However, instead of directly rejecting existing regimes, China has pursued a mixed strategy of complying when these regimes confer benefits and employing contestation or subversion when they conflict with its strategic aims. In particular, China has used contestation and subversion to push for the enclosure of the maritime and cyber domains, extending ideas of sovereignty and territoriality to them to varying extents. While the relatively well-institutionalized nature of maritime governance has limited China’s focus to the application of specific rules in areas where it prioritizes sovereign control, the embryonic status of the cyber regime has enabled China to call into question the fundamental definition of cyberspace as a global common. Subversion has also allowed China to accomplish strategic goals through ‘gray zone’ tactics, resulting in increased conflict below the level of war in both domains.

If you do not have access to International Relations, please contact me for a copy.

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Talk: Economic Connectivity in the Indo-Pacific

On July 13, I spoke at a panel on Economic Connectivity in the Indo-Pacific as part of the Australian Institute of International Affairs Next Generation Policy Forum along with Hayley Channer (Perth USAsia Centre) and former Japanese Ambassador to Indonesia Masafumi Ishii. We discussed the challenges associated with promoting connectivity in the Indo-Pacific region and some of the reasons that recent trilateral initiatives have been slow to take off, as well as the opportunities for moving forward. Check out the video of the highlights above on YouTube.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1399589174106234880
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Webinar: Maritime Security in Southeast Asia

I was enjoyed moderating a Pacific Forum webinar on “Maritime Security in Southeast Asia: Issues, Prospects, and Challenges for Cooperation” on June 14. The featured speakers were Dr. Collin Koh (Research Fellow and Coordinator of United States Programme, IDSS, RSIS) and Blake Herzinger (Non-Resident Fellow, Pacific Forum).

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Presidential Citation for Meritorious Teaching

I’m happy to share that I have been awarded a Presidential Citation for Meritorious Teaching from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. This annual award recognizes faculty across campus who have made significant contributions to teaching and student learning. This year, I was one of 13 individuals recognized with an excellence in teaching award, out of 32 finalists from all colleges and schools, and out of more than 625 initial campus-wide nominations submitted by faculty, staff, students and alumni. The university posted this kind blurb about me in its piece featuring all of this year’s award winners:

Thanks to all of my students for making teaching so worthwhile, and to my students from this year in particular for surprising me with this very nice collection of comments to congratulate and thank me:

Made with Padlet

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Joining Asia Policy as Co-Editor

I’m delighted to share that I’ll be serving as Co-Editor of the journal Asia Policy, along with Mark Frazier (The New School) and Deepa Ollapally (George Washington University). Asia Policy is a peer-reviewed quarterly journal devoted to bridging the gap between academic research and policymaking on issues related to the Asia-Pacific. It publishes research articles and policy essays, special essays, roundtables on policy-relevant topics and recent publications, and book review essays, as well as other occasional formats.

Submit your work to Asia Policy

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New Publication: The Adaptation of Japanese Economic Statecraft: Trade, Aid, and Technology

I’m happy to share that my article “The Adaptation of Japanese Economic Statecraft: Trade, Aid, and Technology” has been published in World Trade Review.  Check it out on FirstView: https://doi.org/10.1017/S1474745620000543

If you do not have institutional access to World Trade Review, you can access a free read-only version of the article through Cambridge Core Share at this link.

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2019–2020 Talks in Review

It was another busy year, despite the onset of COVID-19. I gave the following talks during the 2019–2020 academic year:

  • “Responding to the Rise of China in the Global Commons: Japan’s Evolving Approach to Outer Space, Cyberspace, and the High Seas.” Asia Policy Assembly, Washington DC (June 2019).
  • “The Abe Security Reforms: Drivers and Constraints, Opportunities and Challenges.” US Army Japan, Camp Zama, Japan (July 2019). read more
  • “Issues in Japan-South Korea Relations.” South Korean Journalist Security Forum. East-West Center, Honolulu (September 2019). read more
  • “Coping with Competition in the Global Commons: Japan in the Outer Space, Cyberspace, and Maritime Domains.” Maneuvering in a World of Great Powers, University of California, Berkeley (October 2019).
  • “Trade and Investment in Japan.” Japan House, Los Angeles (December 2019). read more
  • “Coping with Competition in the Global Commons: Japan in the Outer Space, Cyberspace, and Maritime Domains.” Japan’s Leadership in the Liberal International Order, University of British Columbia (January 2020). read more
  • “Designing Trade Architecture for the Free and Open Indo-Pacific.” The Free and Open Indo-Pacific: Charting a Common Approach, Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, Vancouver (January 2020). read more
  • “Understanding Trade Wars.” Global Vision Summit: Trade Wars, Pacific and Asian Affairs Council, Honolulu (February 2020).
  • “Japanese Politics and Foreign Policy Amid COVID-19 and Beyond.” East-West Center, virtual (June 2020). read more
  • “Promoting Good Governance in the Global Commons through the US-Japan Alliance.” National Bureau of Asian Research, podcast interview (July 2020). read more
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NBR Podcast Interview: Promoting Good Governance in the Global Commons through the US-Japan Alliance

I was recently interviewed by the National Bureau of Asian Research about my research on increasing competition in the outer space, cyberspace, and maritime domains and how countries such as Japan and the United States are responding. Check out the podcast here (with convenient timestamps for the various topics that we covered) or click play below:

This podcast is part of NBR’s ongoing Asia Insight series. Asia Insight features interviews with top Asia experts about key issues affecting the Indo-Pacific region, with a focus on implications for U.S. policy and businesses. You can subscribe to the series on Apple Podcasts.

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