ISDP Forum: Japan in the World – Toward a Larger Role?

Trade wars, nuclear crises, totalitarian regimes and an American president out for vengeance – the East Asian region is at the center of the contemporary debate on international security and the international free trade system. In this region sits Japan – a democratic, free-trading cornerstone in the U.S.-led international liberal order with what has been called a “peace constitution” limiting its ability to engage militarily.

In two consecutive seminars, this ISDP Forum will explore whether Japan needs to change to stand up to challenges from countries like China and North Korea, and in order to defend the international free trade system. An agenda follows below.

13:00-14:30 Does Japan need a bigger “stick”? Politics and security in East Asia

Major General (ret.) Mats Engman, Distinguished Military Fellow at ISDP and former Head of the Swedish Delegation to the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission (NNSC) in the DMZ

Professor Emeritus Kazuhiko Kawasaki, Tokai University

14:30-15:00 Coffee break

15:00-16:30 Is the economy Japan’s “stick”? On the importance of free trade 

Ambassador Frank Belfrage, former State Secretary, Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs (MFA)

Ambassador Camilla Mellander, Head of the Department for Trade Promotion, Nation Branding and CSR, Swedish MFA

After the respective panels there will be time for Q&A.The forum will be moderated by Dr Lars Vargö, Distinguished Fellow at ISDP.