Adjunct Senior Fellow Dr Makio Miyagawa spoke on “Japan-Southeast Asia relations: Crises and Opportunities” when he was in RSIS in November. Currently holding the position of Special Advisor on National Security, National Security Secretariat, within the Cabinet Bureau of Japan, Dr Miyagawa has served in the Japanese embassies in the UK and Malaysia, and in the Japanese Mission in Geneva.
At the seminar on 22 November, Dr Miyagawa spoke of how Japan has consistently recognised the need for the creation of a regional cooperation framework in Southeast Asia. Historically, Japan had actively supported the establishment of ASEAN, as well as its expansion to ten member states in the post-Cold War era. In fact, the strengthening of Japan-ASEAN relations has become one of the cornerstones of Japanese foreign policy. Over the years, Japan has deepened its diplomatic and economic partnerships with ASEAN member states and supported the inclusion of other regional countries in various ASEAN-led cooperation frameworks. However, ASEAN solidarity and regional cooperation have been challenged in recent years by the ensuing U.S.-China strategic competition and the emergence of regional flashpoints, such as the South China Sea. These issues affect both regional and global interests and will have to be addressed by all countries in the region, including Japan. During the seminar, Dr Miyagawa examined the role of Japan in initiating and promoting cooperation frameworks in Southeast Asia and the broader Indo-Pacific, as well as opportunities for Japan and ASEAN to work together to foster regional cohesion and stability.
Dr Miyagawa spoke at another seminar on 20 November about “The Future of Sino-Japan Relations: Change or Continuity?”, examining the state of Sino-Japan relations and the way forward for bilateral relations, focusing particularly on how both countries could contribute towards the promotion of regional stability.
RSIS was also In Conversation with Dr Miyagawa about Japan-Southeast Asia relations. During the podcast, Dr Miyagawa spoke about the current and future state of Japan-Southeast Asian relations, what impact Trump’s upcoming presidency might have on Japan-Southeast Asia cooperation, maritime peace and safety in the region, and potential areas of collaboration for ASEAN and Japan.
Listen to it on Spotify here:
