About the Webinar

The global landscape is undergoing a period of profound transformation. Rising major power contestation, rapid digitalisation, and a growing number of cross-cutting issues and transnational challenges necessitate a recalibration of the interactions between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and non-ASEAN players. Within this context, the relationship between ASEAN and Japan holds immense significance. For over four decades, the partnership has propelled economic prosperity, promoted the regional stability, and upheld a rules-based international order.

ASEAN-Japan ties were upgraded to the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) in September 2023. The 18th ASEAN-Japan Joint Cooperation Committee Meeting on 10 June 2024 further underscored their commitment to collaboration. Both sides pledged to enhance cooperation under the three pillars of the CSP – Heart-to-Heart Partners across generations, Partners for Co-creation of Economy and Society of the Future, and Partners for Peace and Stability. They also planned to explore and deepen the collaboration in new areas such as innovation and clean energy and digital transformation.

However, the relationship navigates an increasingly complex environment. The intensifying Sino-American competition over trade and technology creates spillover effects impacting both ASEAN and Japan. The upcoming US Presidential Election could alter the US-China interactions and Indo-Pacific dynamics including the ASEAN-Japan ties.

This webinar aims at convening key stakeholders to investigate how to translate the ASEAN-Japan CSP into concrete cooperation outcomes. By bringing together leading experts, the webinar seeks to provide a comprehensive analysis of the current geopolitical climate, identify emerging trends, and explore avenues for collaboration to chart forward the ASEAN-Japan partnership and multilateralism.

About the Speakers

Mie Oba is a professor at Kanagawa University. She obtained her M.A and Ph.D at the University of Tokyo. Her major is International Relations, especially is focusing on Asian regionalisms empirically and theoretically. She was associate professor and professor at the Tokyo University of Science (2001-2020), and an Academic Associate, US-Japan Relationship Program at Harvard University (2006-2007). She has written a lot of articles and books, including “Towards an equal partnership” East Asia Forum, Vol.15, No.3, 2023, “Japan’s Quest for an autonomous role in East Asian Regionalism” Lam, Peng Er and Purnendra Jain eds., Japan’s foreign policy in the 21^st century: continuity and change, Lexington Books/ Rowman& Littlefield, 2020, Higashi Jusoteki-Chiiki toshiteno Ajia: Tairitsu to Kyozon no Kozu (Asia as a Multi-layered Region: Co-existence in Conflicts), Yuhikaku (2014), Ajia Taiheiyo Chiiki Keisei heno Dotei: Kyokai-Kokka Nichi-Go no Aidentiti Mosaku to Chiiki-Shyugi (The Invention of the Asia Pacific Region: A History of Regionalism and Search for Identity by Japan and Australia as Liminal Nations), Minerva Shobo (2004). She received The 21st Ohira Masayoshi Memorial Prize (2005) and the 11th Nakasone Yasuhiro Incentive Award (2015). She was the Chairperson, Expert Panel for the 50th Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation (until 2023).

Joanne Lin is the Co-Coordinator and Lead Researcher of the ASEAN Studies Centre, ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore. She has over 15 years of work experience in the Singapore public sector, regional and international organisations, think tanks, and NGOs. She previously served at the ASEAN Secretariat from 2015 to 2021 and was the Head of the External Relations Division under the ASEAN Political-Security Community Department. Her research includes ASEAN institutions and external relations as well as political-security developments in ASEAN.

Keith Detros is a technology policy and public policy professional with more than a decade of experience in evidence-based research and strategic stakeholder engagements. He is currently the Programme Manager for the Tech for Good Institute, a non-profit organisation based in Singapore, with the mandate of leveraging technology to achieve sustainable, equitable, and inclusive growth in Southeast Asia. He leads the design, development, and conduct of the Institute’s programmes and key engagements in Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Before moving to Singapore, he served as U.S. Embassy Manila’s digital economy and cybersecurity specialist. He completed his Master of International Affairs degree at the National University of Singapore (Valedictorian), with a specialization in International Public Management and Leadership. He has a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science (Magna Cum Laude) from the University of the Philippines Manila.