U.S.-JAPAN ENERGY COOPERATION IN THE ASIA-PACIFIC CONTEXT

Energy policy, emphasized by Trump administration in 2025, is one of the major issues of U.S.-Japan cooperation.

From the Biden administration to the Trump administration, what changes did the global energy market and U.S. energy policy have? What are the prospects for the global energy market and U.S.-Japan energy cooperation? What political, economic, and technological factors drive the supply and demand of the energy market? What impact will these changes have on Japan’s energy security? How can Japan respond to these changes in the context of U.S.-Japan cooperation? Japan continues to deepen the cooperation with the Trump administration. To strengthen energy security, both U.S. and Japan’s leaders showed the intentions to increase exports of U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Japan in a mutually beneficial manner after their meeting on February 7, 2025. What are the benefits and challenges of this project and how should we address related matters on energy and geoeconomics in general?

While we focus on the U.S. and Japan, the other East Asian countries, especially Southeast Asian countries, with rapid economic development, abundant natural resources, large population, and key global shipping lanes, play significant roles in the energy market, especially LNG market. What priorities do countries in Southeast Asia have and how can the U.S. and Japan engage more effectively in the region?

Held by the Edwin O. Reischauer Center for East Asian Studies, the conference on U.S.-Japan Energy Cooperation in the Asia-Pacific Context aimed to analyze the trend of global energy market and explore the possibility of US-Japan Energy cooperation as well as its implication to the other East Asian countries. Moderated by Dr. Kent E. Calder, this conference included the Reischauer Center’s researchers and distinguished speakers from academic, industry, and government institutions who shared their thoughts on the challenges and prospects in the energy sector.

• China’s Energy Strategy in the Arctic and the Implications for the U.S. – Devin Woods
• Opening the ‘Last Frontier’; the Pivotal Role of Alaska in U.S.-Japan Relations – Sir Michael T. Cianci