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January 8, 2010 | Asia's Changing Power Dynamics

Brahma Chellaney: Never before have China, India, and Japan been powerful at the same time, yet now they make up the strategic trio that is central to the region’s future. Asia houses the fastest growing markets, fastest-rising military expenditures, and the most volatile hot spots. Thus, these main three actors must find a way to reconcile their interests in Asia.

October 14, 2009 | Japan's Transition Into Modernisation - Parallels in Afghanistan

Birgit Hütten: Japan, like no other country, has been successful in implementing enormous changes to its political and social structure. The way to modernization and its impact on Afghanistan are vital factors for the development of other Asian countries.

October 17, 2008 | Japan's North Koreans

E. Ben Heine: The stability of Kim Jong-Il’s regime has depended to a significant degree on financial and material support from Japan’s North Korean minority. This paper analyses the history and organization of North Koreans living in Japan and outlines its significance in future Japan-DPRK relations.

May 21, 2008 | Is China the New Japan?

Andrew D. Bishop: As it becomes - supposedly - obvious that China might one day “rule the world,” it’s urgent we take a look at the facts behind the fears, and reassess our expectations.

October 25, 2007 | Asia's International Order

Henrik Schmiegelow: I warn that Asia is building pillars to support a future international order. Reacting to the functional integration and regional community-building led by ASEAN and the big three—China, Japan, and India—will be “the West’s greatest challenge.”

July 13, 2007 | The Rise of Liberal Japan

Joseph S. Nye: We cannot overlook Japan as a global powerhouse. How its people and government respond to emerging China will be “one of the great questions for this century.”

July 2, 2007 | How Japan Fuels Global Financial Instability

Thomas Palley: China is not the only Asian economy perpetuating trade deficits. Japan’s rock-bottom interest rates also play a part.

October 30, 2009 | Japan Starts Afresh

Japan’s new PM Yukio Hatoyama has been spelling out his political philosophy this week. ++ “Japan would seek to temper the turbulence of globalization by promoting the free market and would take moral leadership on the world stage by aiding poor countries in their fight against climate change.” ++ This fresh approach is named ‘yuai’ and is a huge step forward. ++ “It is an

September 1, 2009 | Hatoyama's Dream Could Turn Into a Nightmare

There is nothing worse than Japan’s new PM’s vision of economic nationalism and protectionism. ++ As an exporting country with a weak domestic economy, Tokyo relies on other nations maintaining free markets to ensure corporate profits for Toyota, Sony, Panasonic and the rest of Japan’s economic giants. ++ Although Japan’s 100 million voters have given Hatoyama four years to prove that he

August 25, 2009 | Open Up, Japan!

Despite the probable shift of power at the upcoming elections in Japan, “the most uncomfortable issue” of immigration policy is tuned out. ++ The lack of policy and the increasing aging of the population will soon lead to a crash in the Japanese economy. ++ “The signs of decrepitude are numerous” as China takes over as the biggest Asian economy and “an unexpected

July 6, 2009 | Japan to Propose Priniciples to Assist Food Security

Investment, not charity, is the key to ensuring food security. ++ Japan will make a new proposal to “promote responsible foreign investment in agriculture, in the face of so-called ‘land grabs’ - the growing trend for large-scale investment in farmland across the developing world” at the G8
Summit in Italy on Friday. ++ In the face of an unprecedented threat to food supply, concerned parties

April 17, 2009 | US Must Keep Its Reputation for Risk

A push for Wall Street banks to be turned into heavily regulated, “talent-deficient” public utilities would see them take fewer investment risks, leading to lower economic growth and higher long-term unemployment. ++ A no-risk system fails to support start-up innovators and small businesses. ++ A push for simplified capital markets ignores the fact that today’s system solved a decade of

April 3, 2009 | Economic Crisis Forces China to its Knees - If Only Temporarily

In China signs of the crisis are highly visible: abandoned factories and container ships, bankruptcies, massive migration to the Chinese countryside, and ironically clean air. Due to the large quantities of goods produced in China, which currently find no buyers, the country seems to suffer more under today’s economic situation than any other. Many, therefore, consider this the end of the Chinese

February 27, 2009 | Japan Must Find its Place in the 21st Century

Japan fears abandonment. ++ The US has tried to reassure it by making it the first stop on Clinton’s tour and receiving PM Aso as the first foreign dignitary in Washington, but this does not suffice. ++ Tokyo has difficulty in adapting to the evolution of the international system and cannot cope with China’s rise and the Sino-American rapprochement. ++ The economic crisis and the

February 20, 2009 | Aloha, China and Japan!

Leaders of the three largest economies should meet up in Hawaii. ++ There has never before been a summit for the US, Japan and China, but the time has come. ++ Japan needs to break its political marginalization towards China, Americans must stop trying to divide Asia, and China is ready to take its place on the world stage. ++ In this crisis, nationalistic tendencies must be resisted. ++ Take

February 18, 2009 | Upcoming Lost Decade for the World's Economy

Japan’s experience in the 1990s is no longer seen simply as a terrible recession but has become an example of how to recover from the current financial crisis. ++ What conclusions can be drawn to rescue our economies? ++ The balance-sheet deflation inside the US is far shallower than in Japan in the 1990s, but the global implications of the current crisis are far greater. ++ The US will not be

January 23, 2009 | The US Bubble Will Not Be Helped More Debt

Obama spoke of sacrifice, but the only ones sacrificing are the Chinese, Japanese and Saudis who fund America’s debt. ++ These countries are the sole creditor nations able to buy bonds to finance the spending expected by Americans. ++ Once they have invested, these creditors will be trapped, as any attempt to rid themselves of the bonds will collapse their value. ++ America is bloated: 5% of

January 9, 2009 | End Isolationist Refugee Policy of Japan

Japan adds itself to less than 20 developed countries open to refugees under resettlement programs. ++ Since 1981 Japan has accepted 451 refugees. ++ Over the next 3 years, 30 refugees per year will be accepted from Burma into camps in Thailand. ++ This number is too small; the Burmese should be allowed to establish their own community in Japan in order not to feel isolated. ++ Plans for teaching

January 8, 2009 | Japan Creates Stronger Ties to Asian Neighbors

Samurai-philosopher Fukuzawa’s longstanding notion that Japan should “leave Asia and enter the West” is likely to fade in 2009. ++ “Tokyo needs to diversify diplomatic and economic relations.” ++ Ruling party LDP may soon be replaced by opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), who advocate multilateral cooperation. ++ “Japan’s efforts to establish the East Asian Community - a proposed economic

December 18, 2008 | It's Time for Japan to Pull Its Weight

“Japan’s near-total opposition to participating in its allies’ military struggles is no longer defensible.” ++ Having made an “easy transition to democracy” after World War Two and now enjoying economic success and stability, Japan has no justification for shying away from the same responsibilities as its counterparts. ++ “Robust Japanese

December 5, 2008 | Japan's Problem With Clinton

Under Bush, the State Department, Defense Department, and White House fought over the War on Terror. ++ Clinton and Obama fought in the primaries, which does not bode well for their cooperation. ++ The Clinton administration of the 90’s took a hard-line position on Japan, while being light on China. ++ This apparent double standard may continue, and could threaten stability in Asia. ++ Japan must

October 31, 2008 | All Eyes on the Yen

Japan’s central bank has reacted to last weeks rise of the yen as well as to the falling stock market by cutting interest rates. ++ If Japan decides to move towards “zero interest” it would become the “source of almost free money for anyone with an appetite to invest.” ++ The US is faced with a smiliar situtation as the Federal Reserve has also been cutting rates, giving

October 28, 2008 | "30 Years of China-Japan Relations"

30 years after the signing of the Japan-China Peace and Friendship Treaty, the two countries are now more than ever in a position to create positive change in Asia and abroad. ++ The two countries can cooperate on “the regional financial crisis; nuclear disarmament of North Korea; global warming; and creating a regional immediate response system for natural disasters or infectious diseases.” ++

October 23, 2008 | Japan's Partisan Politics Stifles Foreign Policy

Japan’s Lower House is expected to approve a bill extending the Maritime Self-Defense Force’s refueling mission in the Indian Ocean. ++ The presiding committee failed to use this opportunity to discuss other important foreign policy issues, such as contributions to Afghanistan and the deteriorating situation in Pakistan, the primary recipient of Japanese fuel. ++  Instead, “the two-day

October 1, 2008 | The US Needs a Global Line of Credit

The US is following a pattern similar to Japan’s financial crisis in the 1990s, but ignoring the principles and method with which to handle it. ++ Unlimited liquidity in the market is needed and the world should help share the burden. ++ The US must ask the global community to provide $5 trillion for troubled financial institutions. ++ This should come from those who have collected dollar

May 23, 2008 | Overseas Deployment Law Endangers Democracy

The Japanese government is asking to be granted permanent authority over the use of military force. ++ Currently every foreign deployment of troops requires separate legislative approval and is bound by strict legal parameters. ++ While accountability and transparency in the process of authorizing military engagement has improved in most democracies, the proposal would amount to a carte blanche,

May 20, 2008 | Food Prices Will Continue to Rise in Asia

Due to unilateral export restrictions imposed by grain producing countries, the Japanese government recently raised the price of imported wheat it sells to flour-milling companies by 30%. ++ The surge is expected to be passed on to the consumer soon. ++ Grain producers should provide a stable supply, if they want access to farm markets in other nations, and Japan should play a leading role in

May 9, 2008 | Japan: Stuck Between a Rock and a Hard Place

Japan increasingly faces a dilemma in its relationship with China. ++ On the one hand intensifying already close economic relations with China is vital for the continued recovery of Japan’s own economy. ++ On the other hand China’s growth gives it greater regional power at the expense of Japanese influence, and creates new security concerns. ++ Japan should confidently embrace its “role as a

April 29, 2008 | Russo-Japanese Relations Are Improving

Japan and Russia’s planned cooperation in fields of energy, transportation, and the environment require settling their territorial dispute. ++ So as to expand its influence in the booming Asia-Pacific region and maintain its volumes of energy exports, Russia may cede sovereignty of the northern islands to Japan. ++ Successful negotiations would enable crucial collaboration on North Korea

April 10, 2008 | Europe Votes Democrat, but Asia Tends Republican

The three largest Asian Powers China, India and Japan have good reason to hope for a Republican US President. ++ China and India see the world more in terms of classic balance-of-power equations. ++ Balancing a rising China is important to Japan. ++ India and China are especially interested in more free-trade oriented policies and were sympathetic to Bush’s pro-Indian strategic

March 17, 2008 | US Decline is Bad for Japan

War in Iraq might decrease US ability to preserve peace in East Asia - a serious concern for Japan. ++ Japan relies on the Middle East for 90 percent of its oil - stability in the region is vital. ++ North Korea will never dismantle nuclear weapons without US influence. ++ Japan should maintain close relationship with US - decline in US power is not in Japan’s national interest.

March 6, 2008 | The US Should Avoid Japan's Economic Mistakes

The US economy is facing a post-bubble recession rather than a cyclical downturn. ++ As homebuilders and consumers - a sector representing 78% of GDP, are being hit the hardest, the Fed’s monetary easing policies which favor consumption are proving ineffective. ++ The focus should be on exports and infrastructure spending instead of attempts to maintain unsustainably high rates of personal

February 29, 2008 | Japanese Foreign Policy: Doing Less with Less

Japan is donating ever less in aid, partly because chequebook diplomacy has been judged a failure. ++ Japan could increase its international contribution by utilizing its well equipped defence forces, but self imposed restrictions mean they have just 50 peacekeepers abroad. ++ Japan is increasingly ambitious about foreign affairs but with a shrinking aid budget and military phobia, Tokyo is doing

November 29, 2007 | Restrain, Modesty, and Multilateralism: A New American Grand Strategy

The last 16 years provide valuable hindsight into the grand strategic approach of the United States and highlight the need to reshape American foreign policy around the principle of restraint, argues Barry R. Posen, director of the security studies program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Writing for the American Interest, he points out that US policy makers have struggled to

May 31, 2007 | Bruegel Says Worldwide Exchange Rates Adjustment Would Fight Current Account Deficits

The March 2007 Bruegel Policy Brief reveals that imbalances in global current account positions are not sustainable and need adjustment. A 15% depreciation of the dollar and an appreciation of Asian currencies is needed in order to:

• reduce the US current account deficit,
• faciliate China’s focus on domestic demand and reduce its accumulation of foreign exchange reserves, and
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April 16, 2007 | Kiroku Hanai on Consolidation of US-Japanese Economic Partnership

If Japan intends to preserve its status in world trade, it must negotiate an economic partnership agreement with its biggest trading partner, the US, warns journalist Kiroku Hanai. Japan already lags behind South Korea and China in completing bilateral trade agreements and has recently shied away from free trade because of its weak agricultural sector, preferring instead multilateral negotiations

April 12, 2007 | Robert D. Kaplan on When North Korea Falls

North Korean nuclear tests are symptoms of an unheralded threat: not the exertion of North Korean strength, but the prospective collapse of Kim Jong Il’s government. Weakness in Pyongyang could result in desperation, a WMD attack on the South, or full-on military engagement with Seoul. Drawing on this possibility of collapse, Robert D. Kaplan discusses opportunities for:

1. Reconstruction and

April 12, 2007 | Claus Leggewie on US Environmental Leadership

Europeans should look to the United States as an emerging global leader in energy policy, says Claus Leggewie of Giessen University. The Director of the Center for Media and Interactivity describes a “greening” of the US political climate, fostered by rising oil prices in conjunction with recent natural disasters. The energy policy shift in the Bush Administration is mainly driven by security