Seminar: Two perspectives on Japanese foreign policy in East-Asia

Seminar with Prof. Dr. Tomoki Kamo, Faculty of Policy Management, Keio University, and Prof. Dr. Junya Nishino, Department of Political Science, Keio University, Tokyo.

Professor Kamo: Japanese and Chinese Foreign Policy in East Asia

China chose to improve its relations with Japan last fall, even though the state of tension in the East China Sea remains unchanged. Why? The restoration of order in the East China Sea will be important for judging how China views the world order.

Bio: Dr. Tomoki Kamo is a Professor of Chinese politics and Foreign Policy at the Faculty of Policy Management at Keio University, Vice-Chair of the Center for Contemporary Chinese Studies at Keio University. He is also appointed as a Consul to the Consulate-General of Japan in Hong Kong (Oct. 2016 – Oct. 2018). His research and teaching focus on Chinese politics, comparative politics, and international relations of East Asia. He was a visiting scholar Graduate Institute of Political Science, National Taiwan Normal University (Taiwan) (2010) and Center of Chinese Studies, University of California, Berkeley (2011 - 2012) and a visiting associate professor of College of International Affairs, National Chengchi University (Taiwan) (2013-2013). Previously he served as a research fellow at Consulate-General of Japan in Hong Kong (2001-2003) and studied at Fudan University (1995-1996). He received his B.A., M.A. and Ph.D. of Media and Governance from Keio University. 

His recent publication includes: Chinese Politics in Time (in Japanese), Tokyo: Keio University Press, 2018; The Sources of China’s Foreign Policy (in Japanese), Tokyo: Keio University Press, 2016.

Professor Nishino: Japan's Security and Foreign Policy Challenges on the Korean Peninsula

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un reaffirmed his firm and unwavering commitment to complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula in the US-DPRK Joint Statement on June 12 in Singapore. But North Korea has not yet taken any concrete steps for denuclearization, nor has it disposed of nuclear materials or nuclear warheads produced in the past. Therefore it would be difficult to judge that the Japanese security environment has improved. This presentation will assess current security environment on the Korean peninsula and Japan's efforts in dealing with North Korea, mainly focusing on the security and diplomatic cooperation triangle among Japan, the US and South Korea as well as Japan-South Korea bilateral cooperation.

Bio: Dr. Junya Nishino is Professor at the Department of Political Science, Faculty of Law and Politics, Keio University in Tokyo, Japan. He also serves as Director of the Center for Contemporary Korean Studies at Keio University. His research focuses on contemporary Korean politics, international relations in East Asia and Japan-Korea relations.

Dr. Nishino was a Japan Scholar at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars and a Visiting Scholar at the Sigur Center for Asian Studies, George Washington University in 2012-2013. He was also an Exchange Scholar at the Harvard-Yenching Institute in 2011-2012.

Previously he served as a Special Analyst on Korean Affairs in the Intelligence and Analysis Service of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2006-2007, and was a Special Assistant on Korean Politics at the Japanese Embassy in Seoul in 2002-2004.

Dr. Nishino received his B.A. and M.A. from Keio University, and Ph.D. in Political Science from Yonsei University in South Korea.

Moderator: Professor Jørgen Delman
Comments by: Dr Andreas Bøje Forsby