2024 ANU CHINA IN THE WORLD FORUM
Sino-Japan relations in the Indo-Pacific: Implications for the regional orders

In the midst of China’s increasing presence in the Indo-Pacific region, Japan’s historical role and contemporary foreign policies in the Indo-Pacific region have engendered a unique position. On the one hand, Japan is a staunch proponent of a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” vision and the concept of human security. It also participates in a wide range of international organisations embedded in the liberal international order. On the other hand, its engagement in the region, particularly through infrastructure development and knowledge sharing, contrasts with the Western approach. This panel explores the similarities, differences, complementarities and contradictions between China and Japan’s respective approaches to the regional order. It pays special attention to the two countries’ engagement with the emerging economies in the region and discusses implications for the future of the regional order.

Speakers

Kenki Adachi, Professor, College of International Relations, Ritsumeikan University
Kenki Adachi is Director of the Institute of International Relations and Area Study (IIRAS) and Professor of International Politics at Ritsumeikan University, Japan. He specializes in theories of international politics. His works include Changing Arms Control Norms in International Society (Routledge, 2021) which won the 2023 International Studies Association Global IR Book Award, and The Ottawa Process: Formation Process of the Landmine Ban Regime (Yushindo, 2004) which won the 2004 Canadian Prime Minister Award.

Miwa Hirono, Professor and Associate Dean, College of Global Liberal Arts, Ritsumeikan University
Miwa Hirono is an Associate Dean at the College of Global Liberal Arts and a Professor of International Relations at the Graduate School of International Relations at Ritsumeikan University. Her current research focuses on China’s global affairs with particular attention to China’s actions in the developing world. Her publication includes Ittai Ichiro ha Naniwo Motarashitanoka (What the Belt and Road Brought) (Keiso Shobo, 2021); China’s Evolving Approach to Peacekeeping (London: Routledge 2012).

Kei Koga, Associate Professor, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
Kei Koga is Associate Professor/ Head of Division at the Public Policy and Global Affairs Programme, School of Social Sciences, Nanyang Technological University (NTU). Concurrently, he is a Nonresident Fellow at The National Bureau of Asia Research (NBR), the United States, and a member of RIPS Research Committee, the Research Institute for Peace and Security (RIPS), Japan. His research focuses on International Security, International/Regional Institutions (particularly ASEAN), and East Asian/Indo-Pacific security.

Denghua Zhang, Research Fellow, Department of Pacific Affairs, Australian National University
His research focuses on Chinese foreign policy, foreign aid and China-Pacific relations. He has published with esteemed journals such as Third World Quarterly, Australian Journal of International Affairs, The Pacific Review, Pacific Affairs and International Relations of the Asia-Pacific. His article ‘China's influence and local perceptions: the case of Pacific island countries’ won the Boyer prize as the best article of Australian Journal of International Affairs for 2022. His book A Cautious New Approach: China’s Growing Trilateral Aid Cooperation is among the ANU Press’ top ten new releases for 2020.

Chair

Lauren Richardson, Lecturer, Department of International Relations & Japan Institute, Australian National University
Lauren Richardson is a Lecturer in the Department of International Relations. From 2018-2020 she was Director of Studies and Lecturer in the Asia-Pacific College of Diplomacy at the ANU. Prior to that Dr Richardson taught Northeast Asian Relations at the University of Edinburgh. Her research focuses on the role of non-state actors in shaping diplomatic interactions in Northeast Asia, particularly Japan-Korea relations.

Organisers

Australian Centre on China in the World, Australian National University
ANU Japan Institute, Australian National University
Institute of International Relations and Area Studies, Ritsumeikan University
Ritsumeikan Advanced Research Academy, Ritsumeikan University

The panel discussion is partially sponsored by Institute of International Relations and Area Studies (IIRAS) and Ritsumeikan Advanced Research Academy (RARA).

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Photo credit: 首相官邸ホームページ, Wikimedia Commons.