NEWS & EVENTS

On Wednesday, February 26, Edwin O. Reischauer Center for East Asian Studies hosted two panels of experts discussing recent developments in U.S.-China relations, as well as the importance of these trends in Japanese foreign policy. The first panel, entitled “Economic Implications of U.S.- China Relations for Washington-Tokyo Ties,” featured former Louisiana Representative and Counselor at the The National Bureau of Asian Research Charles Boustany, Youngstown State University Professor Paul Sracic, and Executive Director of the Washington International Trade Association – WITA Paul Levinson. Each speaker gave brief remarks on U.S. trade policy in the context of the ongoing U.S.-China trade dispute before fielding questions from Dr. Mieko Nakabayshi, a professor of U.S. and Japanese politics at Waseda University. Levinson and Congressman Boustany both stressed the need for the U.S. to work more closely with its allies–including Japan-in resolving trade tensions, while Dr. Sracic delved into Japanese perceptions (and some misperceptions) about U.S. public opinion on trade as well as the struggles between Congress and the White House over control of U.S. foreign policy.

This hour-long dialogue was followed by a second panel entitled “Security and Foreign Policy Implications of U.S.-China Relations for Washington Tokyo Ties.” Moderated by Reischauer Center Visiting Scholar Daniel Bob, the discussion included Dr. Ely Ratner, Executive Vice President and Director of Studies at the Center for a New American Security – CNAS; and Emma Chanlett-Avery, a specialist in Asian Affairs at the Congressional Research Service. In a short statement on the growing security tensions between Beijing and Washington, Mr. Ratner listed a number of recommendations for greater U.S. competition with China, including increased cooperation with Japan. Similarly, Ms. Chanlette-Avery discussed Japanese expectations of a stronger U.S. response to Chinese assertiveness in the Asia/Pacific. After giving their short initial remarks, both speakers answered questions from Mr. Bob as well as number of audience members.