Description:

The Brookings Institution and the Buffett Institute will gather experts from Northwestern, Washington, and Japan for an afternoon of discussion on U.S.–Japan relations.

Panel 1: Japan’s Security Challenges

Japan faces several challenges in ensuring the country’s security, both physically as more advanced military capabilities increase Japan’s vulnerability and psychologically as the reliability of the United States, Japan’s security guarantor, seems less certain. Panelists will discuss how Japan and the United States are tackling these immediate and long-term threats as well as the issues drawn from the economic and social foundation of security. After having remained safe by not threatening others after 1945, must Japan confront the inevitability of assuring its own security by joining the United States in demonstrating firmness in the face of hostility from others?

Current panelists:
• Richard Bush, Senior Fellow and Goo Chair in Taiwan Studies, Brookings Institution (China’s ambitions and implications for regional security)
• Katrin Katz, Fellow, Korea Chair, CSIS
• Daniel Krcmaric, Assistant Professor of Political Science, Northwestern University
• Jung Pak, Senior Fellow and SK-Korea Foundation Chair in Korea Studies, Brookings Institution (the impact of North Korea’s nuclear ambitions on regional security dynamics)
• Yuki Tatsumi, Director of the Japan Program and Co-Director of the East Asia Program, Stimson Center

Panel 2: Japan and the Evolving Regional Economic Architecture

Asia’s economic architecture is evolving as it adapts to twin shifts in capabilities and governance. China’s economic footprint continues to grow as it carves a visible role in infrastructure finance for developing Asia and portrays itself as a champion of trade multilateralism. The United States maintains robust ties of economic interdependence with the region, but the Trump administration has called for a reset of U.S. foreign economic policy under the mantra of ‘America First.’ In this fluid environment, Japan is aiming for an expanded role in shaping Asia’s regional economic architecture. This panel of experts will discuss the opportunities and challenges Japan faces in this leadership bid.

Current panelists: 

• Ryan Hass, Rubenstein Fellow, Brookings Institution (China’s growing economic influence over the regional architecture and U.S. responses)
• Laura Hein, Professor of History, Northwestern University
• William Hurst, Associate Professor of Political Science, Northwestern University
• Jun Saito, Visiting Professor, International Christian University (Abenomics and Japan’s economy)
• Mireya Solis, Senior Fellow and Knight Chair in Japan Studies, Brookings Institution (Japan’s trade leadership bid—mega trade agreements and U.S.-Japan bilateral trade issues)