Japan is a country, which enjoyed a close relation with both Trump and Biden administration as an ally in Asia. When Japan’s former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe stepped down due to his illness last September, both Mr. Trump and Mr. Biden openly expressed sincere regret to his resignation. In Trump era, the US adapted the Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) initiative, which was originally planned by Shinzo Abe. The new Biden administration seems to continue to implement FOIP initiative although President Biden turned over 17 Trump policies by 17 Executive Orders on the inauguration day.
In Asia, power balance is shifting toward China from the US and its allies. We witness the power struggle of the United States and China for regional and global primacy. Japan is working hard with the US and other likeminded actors to maintain the regional stability and order, which is challenged by assertive China. Japan’s approach toward China is not simple-minded old containment policy. As matter of the fact, Japan continues to have a business as a usual economic relation with China despite of Chinese assertive territorial challenge.

Tsuneo Watanabe, who spent 10 years research on Asian security issues at the US thinktank, will talk about Japan’s strategic rationale for the FOIP as a contribution to international peace, stability and prosperity in the era of the US-China rivalry.

This conference is organised in collaboration with the Embassy of Japan in Luxembourg.
Link to the online conference: https://unilu.webex.com/unilu/j.php?MTID=mdc09a854dae55bbdd42b7ad984e5aa8b