On 9 May 2022, the Centre for Security, Diplomacy and Strategy (CSDS) at the Brussels School of Governance co-hosted, along with the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), two successful panel discussions in Washington DC.    The first public event was devoted the topic of establishing a Transatlantic Dialogue in the Indo-Pacific, and it was broken into two sessions.    Session one involved discussing the theoretical and practical aspects of cooperation in the Indo-Pacific between the United States, Europe, and various partners in Asia.The goal of this panel was to outline areas that require more talks between the partners as well as goals for the future and how the partnerships in the region should look. Speakers included Victor Cha, Michael J. Green, Luis Simón, and Yoko Iwama, and the conversation was moderated by Eva Pejsova.    Session two focused specifically on the economic aspect of the transatlantic relathionship between Europe and the United States and how it pertains to China and the Indo-Pacific. Within the realm of economics, the issues surrounding the global supply chain, working with politically friendly governments, selectivity and capability, and the inclusion of the private sector were all touched on by the panelists in detail. The panel was moderated by Giulia Tercovich and included Matthew Goodman, Ramon Pacheco Pardo, Shin Oya, and Linde Desmaele as speakers.    During the second discussion, on the subject of Trilateral Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, participants focused on breaking down the various aspects of cooperation between the United States, Europe and Japan in terms of actions concerning the Indo-Pacific. The speakers discussed areas of conflict within this potential partnership, various goals, as well as the nuances of cooperation that still need to be ironed out. This discussion was held in the context of the ongoing Ukraine war, which the panelists stressed has a great effect on how coalition building in Asia should take place. Participating in the discussion was Dr. Michael J. Green, Dr. Eva Pejsova, and Dr. Yuichi Hosoya, with Pierre Marcos as serving as a moderator.

The Centre for Security, Diplomacy and Strategy (CSDS) at the VUB’s Brussels School of Governance is delighted to announce the establishment of a Japan Chair starting in September 2022.

This Chair shall further promote a deeper understanding of Japanese politics and foreign policy in Europe. Japan is one of Europe’s key partners as well as an influential actor on the world stage and through this Chair, CSDS and the VUB’s Brussels School of Governance consummate a devoted trajectory which started in October 2020 with the inauguration of the Japan Program. Throughout these two years, the CSDS has hosted lectures, courses and seminars on Japan strategic issues with the aim of promoting academically rigorous discussions on geostrategic developments in Asia and the Indo-Pacific region.

Therefore, the Japan Chair marks an important new chapter in CSDS, BSoG and VUB engagement in the region, serving not only to enhance awareness of Japanese foreign and security policy in Europe, but also to inform and shape the policy agenda confronting the Japanese and European leadership by focusing specifically on the EU and NATO.

Read the press release.pdf

In: Asia Matters

In the 27 June 2021 edition of Asia Matters’ podcast, BSoG Japan Program Senior Fellow Eva Pejsova is joined by Abhijit Singh, Senior Fellow and head of the Maritime Policy Initiative at the Observer Research Foundation, and Kei Koga, Assistant Professor at the School of Social Sciences at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. Together, they turn their attention to the Indo-Pacific –  the new geopolitical groupings emerging there, from multilateral trade deals to nascent security arrangements – and how Europe fits in to the picture.

The most well-known of these new security groups is probably the Quad, a grouping of the major democracies with skin in the game in the region –  namely India, Japan, Australia, and the US. But what of Europe, the world’s largest trading bloc? Back in April, the EU published a strategy document aimed at boosting its presence in the region. But what does that mean in practice – what does the bloc hope to achieve, what limitations is it up against – and what do the major players situated in the region make of this renewed European focus?

For more on this joint CSDS and Asia Matters episode, including a reading list, visit asiamatterspod.com.

The episode is available here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/699187/8770520-how-the-eu-fits-into-asia-s-security-puzzle

The Indo-Pacific has become the centerstage of the shifting global balance of power. From the rise of China and the US – China rivalry, to tensions on the Korean Peninsula and maritime disputes in the East and South China Seas, regional security developments have far-reaching consequences for the functioning of international affairs and economy.

In the wake of the ‘Japan’s Foreign and Security Policy’ course organised in Autumn 2020 – Spring 2021, the Japan Program of the Brussels School of Governance is organising a new course from Autumn 2021 until Summer 2022, titled ‘Japan and Security in the Indo-Pacific’. The course explores the regional security environment through the lenses of Japan’s foreign policy and tackles questions such as: What are the main security trends shaking and shaping regional affairs? What is Japan’s role in the Indo-Pacific, and how are Tokyo’s strategic policies and foreign relations evolving? And what are the implications for Europe?

The course follows a practical, executive-style format, combining traditional academic lectures with interactive seminars and interventions of renowned external experts  from Europe and Asia. It will provide participants with a comprehensive picture of the current security challenges in the Indo-Pacific, an opportunity to engage with experienced policy-makers and the analytical tools to assess geopolitical trends.

Just like last year, only VUB students will be able to take all three modules of the ’Japan and Security in the Indo-Pacific’ course. The course will be offered as an elective for the “Diplomacy and Global Governance” and “Global Security and Strategy” MA programmes. However, the second and third modules are taught executive-style and will be open to the public again. If you are interested in attending these lectures in Winter 2021-22 and Spring 2022, please subscribe to receive Japan Program news updates to stay informed and nab one of the spots as soon as they become available!

From November 2020 through May 2021, the Japan Program organised a course titled ‘Japan’s Foreign and Security Policy’. The course provided students with the necessary background to understand the basics of Japan’s contemporary history, institutions and foreign policy structures and priorities, while remaining flexible to tailor lectures and seminars to an evolving international landscape. It followed an intensive, executive-like format, combining traditional academic lectures with interactive discussions with experts and policy-makers. It was open to VUB Master’s students, as well as to interested public, and took place in three modules.

Module 3 was taught in May 2021 and was entitled ‘Japan as a global security actor’. The recordings of the lectures in this module are now available online, on the Japan Program’s Youtube channel. Module 3 was divided into the following subtopics, each brought by an expert during several lectures (click on link to view recordings on Youtube):

Japan and the European Union: An evolving partnership - Lecturer: Yuichi Hosoya, Professor, Keio University; Discussant: Michael Reiterer, Distinguished Professor, CSDS; Moderator: Eva Pejsova, Senior Japan Fellow, CSDS

Japan and NATO: Engaging for global security - Lecturer: Michito Tsuruoka, Associate Professor, Keio University; Discussant: Caroline Cliff, Global Partnerships, Political Affairs and Security Policy Division, NATO; Moderator: Celine Pajon, Senior Fellow, Japan Program, CSDS

Japan’s Evolving Role in Global and Regional Security Multilateralism - Lecturer: Akiko Fukushima, Senior Fellow, The Tokyo Foundation for Policy Research; Discussant: Hugo Dobson, Professor, East Asian Studies, University of Sheffield; Moderator: Eva Pejsova, Senior Japan Fellow, CSDS

If you would like us to keep you posted on similar future courses in our Japan Program, subscribe here and tick the ‘Japan Program’ box in the ‘Your interests’ section.

 

>> To recordings of Module 1

>> To recordings of Module 2

In: CSIS, Center for Strategic and International Studies

In this podcast, Michael J. Green, Dr. Eva Pejsova and Dr. Luis Simón discuss how the Indo-Pacific factors into European foreign policy and strategic thinking. Eva and Luis analyze the recently released “EU strategy for cooperation in the Indo-Pacific,” as well as the individual strategies of France, Germany, and the Netherlands, and argue that Europe cannot address the rise of China without considering the geopolitics of the Indo-Pacific region. The three then dive deeper into potential cooperation between the EU, U.S., and other partners in the region like Japan, Australia, and India.

in CSIS podcast “The Impossible State”

In this episode, Andrew and Dr. Victor Cha invite a panel of guests to discuss the state of trilateral relations between Japan, South Korea, and the United States. To analyze what events have shifted the relationships, we are joined by Dr. Michael Green, Dr. Eva Pejsova, and Dr. Ramon Pacheco-Pardo.

Read More: https://www.csis.org/node/59234

Roundtable is a discussion program with an edge. Broadcast out of London and presented by David Foster, it’s about bringing people to the table, listening to every opinion, and analysing every point of view. From fierce debate to reflective thinking, Roundtable discussions offer a different perspective on the issues that matter to you.

Our Senior Japan Fellow Eva Pejsova joined the TRT Roundtable to discuss the EU role in the Indo-Pacific.

We are not anti-China, says the European Union, but when it talks of promoting democracy, rule of law and human rights, what does it actually want? Tensions are already high in a region that produces almost two thirds of global wealth. The EU says one of its aims is to protect trade routes at sea. Could that only escalate mistrust between Beijing and Brussels?

Watch more

In collaboration with Asia Matters, we publish a series of podcast episodes to enhance the understanding of Asia’s security challenges in Europe.

To date, the following episodes have been released:

1. Episode 32: Dealing with Disinformation: A Global Challenge

Disinformation has become somewhat of a buzzword over the last few years, particularly in the wake of Russian interference into the 2016 US election. But what exactly do we mean when we talk about ‘disinformation’ – and who is spreading it, and how? Governments, academics and journalists have been playing ever closer attention to the phenomenon, especially when it comes to state actors – and for Europe, the US and its allies, that means Russia and China in particular. But faced with a vast array of actors and motives – from pro-Kremlin troll farms to China’s so-called wolf warrior diplomats – what efforts can governments take to lessen their impact? To discuss this, we are joined by Lutz Guellner, the Head of Strategic Communications at the European External Action Service , the EU’s diplomatic service. And Bonji Ohara, an expert in defence issues and Senior Fellow at the Sasakawa Peace Foundation, joins us from Tokyo. Listen to this podcast episode.

2. Episode 35: North Korea: Is full denuclearisation still a viable goal?

South Korea’s president Moon Jae-in has just been in Washington for talks with President Biden, in part to discuss how to deal with the long-isolated country. And in its first comments reacting to that meeting, Pyongyang has signalled it was not best pleased – warning that what it called the U.S.’s hostile policy against the North could lead to an “acute and unstable situation” on the Korean Peninsula. The last few years have of course seen plenty of drama, but little resolution around the North Korean issue – Donald Trump’s historic talks with Kim Jong Un being a prime example of both phenomena. So has there been any real progress on the Korean Peninsula? What is the best and most realistic way forward now? Is it time, for example, to give up the goal of fully denuclearising North Korea? This week we are joined by CSDS’s Korea Chair, Ramon Pacheco Pardo, who is also an associate professor at King’s College, London. Our other distinguished guest is Sue Mi Terry, a senior fellow at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, her latest post in a stellar career following Korean issues in the worlds of intelligence, policy making and academia. Listen to this podcast episode.

3. Episode 37: How the EU Fits into Asia’s Security Puzzle

This week we turn our attention to the Indo-Pacific – and the new geopolitical groupings emerging there, from multilateral trade deals to nascent security arrangements. The most well-known of the latter is probably the Quad, a grouping of the major democracies with skin in the game in the region – namely India, Japan, Australia, and the US. But what of Europe, the world’s largest trading bloc? Back in April, the EU published a strategy document aimed at boosting its presence in the region. But what does that mean in practice – what does the bloc hope to achieve, what limitations is it up against – and what do the major players situated in the region make of this renewed European focus? Eva Pejsova, Senior Japan Fellow at Centre for Security, Diplomacy and Strategy (CSDS) of the Brussels School of Governance, is one of our guests as we discuss where Europe fits into the shifting geopolitical picture in the region. Joining Andrew and Eva are Abhijit Singh, Senior Fellow and head of the Maritime Policy Initiative at the Observer Research Foundation; and Kei Koga, Assistant Professor at the School of Social Sciences at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. Listen to this podcast episode.

4. Episode 40: North Korea: The View from the South

We often talk about North Korea’s future in terms of how the issue plays out in the region’s broad geopolitical rivalry, and between the US and China. Less discussed is how the issue plays out in South Korea – which technically remains at war with its northern neighbour – and whose interest in the matter is existential. Seoul’s approach to the DPRK is set to come more sharply into focus in the coming months, with candidates gearing up for next spring’s presidential elections, where a successor to Moon Jae-in will be chosen. So what shapes South Korean attitudes towards North Korea? How united has the country been behind Moon’s approach over the last few years? And what might change as the country enters a period of new leadership? Joining us we have Dr Jina Kim, a research fellow at the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses, who specializes in North Asian security issues and has also advised the South Korean government. Our other guest is Ramon Pacheco Pardo, the Korea Chair at the Centre for Security, Diplomacy and Strategy at the Brussels School of Governance. Listen to this podcast episode.

5. Episode 41: South Korea: The Tech Powerhouse on the Cyber Frontline

In any list of influential tech powers in the world, South Korea would undoubtedly be near the top. In this episode we delve into how the country achieved this status, transforming the nature of its economy and producing global industry leaders like Samsung and LG Electronics. But we’ll also look to the future, and at how South Korea is working with the international community to build up the world’s tech infrastructure. How is Seoul cooperating with other regions and countries when it comes to issues such as regulating the internet? How are issues of data collection and privacy being received in Korean society? Like most globally connected powers, South Korea is also highly attuned to the risk of cyber attacks – particularly given its volatile neighbour North Korea. We are delighted to have Dr Michael Reiterer, former EU Ambassador to the Republic of Korea and a Distinguished Professor at CSDS, Brussels School of Governance, on the show. He has specialised in EU’s relations with Korea and Japan during his career, particularly in the security realm. Also joining us is Dr Robyn Klingler-Vidra, a Reader in International Political Economy at King’s College London, whose research has focused on how East and Southeast nations have developed their tech sectors. Listen to this podcast episode.