Conferences
Foreign Policy Association / UCLA Burkle Center for International Relations Conference on U.S.-China Relations (April 23, 2024)
The Foreign Policy Association, with the help of the UCLA Burkle Center for International Relations, hosted a conference at the Luskin Conference Center in Los Angeles on April 23 on the topic of U.S.-China Relations after the APEC summit.
Australia Institute of International Affairs (AIIA) Australia-Japan-United States Indo-Pacific Roundtable (June 14-15, 2023)
YCAPS Research Fellow Sam Baron represented the organization at the “Australia-Japan-United States Indo-Pacific Roundtable” jointly organized by the Australian Institute of International Affairs (AIIA) and Osaka School of International Public Policy (OSIPP) from 14-15 June in Osaka, Japan. Funded by the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo and supported by the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Foundation, the roundtable brought together scholars and policy experts from the U.S., Australia, and Japan to discuss emerging regional challenges facing the three countries in the Indo-Pacific and to recommend ways to strengthen trilateral cooperation to address them.
Events
Promoting Business Respect for Human Rights in Myanmar: Lessons from Japan (October 26, 2023)
Following the February 1, 2021 military coup in Myanmar, international companies operating in the country faced a number of operational and human rights challenges. Notably, the military coup, marked by political repression, violence against civilians, and a rise in armed conflict, made it substantially more difficult for companies to respect the human rights of their workers and come into compliance with international standards such as the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business & Human Rights (UNGPs).
India-China Economic Ties: Which Way Is It Heading? An Impression From India (September 8, 2023)
The trend in China-India ties is a much predictable affair at present: Bilateral antagonism is taking the lead over any pretense of engagement and stability. Recent years increasingly suggest that border confrontation to building infrastructure in the bordering region has become the highlight of this antagonism. In fact, both sides have been steadily investing in border infrastructure development as their respective forces have entered into clashes with increasingly greater frequency.
Imperfect Partners: The United States and Southeast Asia (July 13, 2023)
YCAPS is thrilled to announce our next online event, a conversation with Scot Marciel, a former U.S. Ambassador to ASEAN, Indonesia, and Myanmar. During this event, Ambassador Marciel will discuss his new book on U.S.-Southeast Asia relations entitled Imperfect Partners: The United States and Southeast Asia, an important publication that combines substantial research and analysis on Southeast Asia with illuminating anecdotes about his distinguished career in the U.S. Foreign Service.
South Korea’s Alignment with NATO: What Does It Mean For East Asian Security? (June 7, 2023)
Since 2005, South Korea has been an active partner of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Built on shared values, the Seoul-NATO partnership has quickly become a strong one, especially in the cyber domain, with South Korean experts recently participating in the NATO Centre of Excellence and NATO Cyber Coalition exercise. Recent months have also seen a growing chemistry between NATO and its partners in the Indo-Pacific, with the recent announcement that the organization would open its first representative office in Asia. Against this backdrop, the joint YCAPS-ISDP webinar will host a roundtable of experts to discuss South Korea's growing ties with NATO.
Two Years After the Myanmar Coup: Regional Perspectives on Human Security (March 21, 2023)
On February 1, 2021, the Myanmar military—known as the Tatmadaw—orchestrated a coup d’état that overthrew Myanmar’s civilian government and plunged the country into an economic and political crisis. In recognition of the 2nd anniversary of the coup and its disastrous impacts on the people of Myanmar, the Research Center for Sustainable Peace at University of Tokyo (RCSP) in partnership with the Yokosuka Council on Asia-Pacific Studies (YCAPS) will host a panel of experts from different countries within the Indo-Pacific to discuss the prolonged impact of the coup on Myanmar and the regional stability of surrounding countries.
Japan’s Growing Engagement with NATO: Exploring the Future (March 1, 2023)
Following the Russia-Ukraine War, Japan’s partnership with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) experienced a rapid upswing. In April 2022, Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa attended the NATO Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, and in May, Japan’s highest-ranking uniformed officer in the Self Defence Force (SDF) attended the NATO Military Chiefs of Defense Meeting for the very first time. In order to delve into some of these questions, YCAPS will be joined by Ambassador Lars Vargö, head of the Japan Center at the Institute for Security and Development Policy, and Dr. Brendon Cannon, Assistant Professor of Security Studies at Khalifa University, for a roundtable discussion co-moderated by Dr. Jagannath Panda and Mr. Sam Baron.
20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party: What it Means for Europe (November 4, 2022)
As the world intently scrutinizes the 20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), its developments and outcomes are of critical importance to world politics. Coming at a critical juncture, the National Congress is poised to have considerable implications for regional and global geopolitics, especially that of Europe. Russia’s war on Ukraine has greatly complicated the relationship between China and Europe. In this webinar, YCAPS will be joined by Dr. Luke Patey of the Danish Institute for International Studies, and Dr. Torbjörn Lodén, Head of the China Centre at the Institute for Security and Development Policy, Sweden for a roundtable discussion on the 20th Congress.
Emergent Tokyo: A Modern History of Japan's Urbanism (October 11, 2022)
In this webinar, Mr. Joe McReynolds, the co-author of Emergent Tokyo: Designing the Spontaneous City, will provide an introductory overview of the history of Japan's urbanism, and what key features distinguish Tokyo's city-scape from the other major cities of the world.
U.S.-Japan Trade Relations: From Trade Adversaries to Trade Allies (September 13, 2022)
In this webinar, Director for Japan and Asian Trade at Eurasia Group, Mr. David Boling, will provide an introductory overview of contemporary trade relations between the United States and Japan. Mr. Boling will also discuss recent trade agreements and economic initiatives pursued by the two countries in the Indo-Pacific, including the new Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF).
Shinzo Abe's Life and Legacy (August 30, 2022)
Following the assassination of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on July 8, 2022, I moderated a webinar with Tobias Harris, the author of The Iconoclast: Shinzo Abe and the New Japan to discuss Abe's legacy and his lasting impact on Japanese politics and foreign policy.
Japan's Constitution and Government System (August 4, 2022)
With the assassination of former Prime Minister Abe Shinzō just days before the Upper House election, we are witnessing one of the most eventful months in the history of Japanese politics. Amidst the significant shifts in Japan's political landscape, Dr. Mike Bosack will provide a primer on Japan’s postwar constitution and system of governance, offering the tools needed to make sense of it all.