China’s Rise, Japan’s Role, and the Future of ROK-US Cooperation

Is China's ever-growing presence a real threat or simply a perceived one? That was one of a number of thought-provoking questions addressed In the first panel entitled "China's Rise, Japan's Role, and the Future of ROK-US Relations". Moderated by Global Asia editor Chung-in Moon, the panelists discussed not only the changing nature of Seoul's relations with Beijing, but also the prospect of Japan reinterpreting its constitution impacting security in the Asia-Pacific region. Prospects for the U.S. rebalance to Asia and Washington’s commitment to the region in the future was also addressed by discussants Thomas Fingar of Stanford University, Sung-hwan Kim of Seoul National University’s Institute for Global Social Responsibility, Emma Chanlett-Avery of Congressional Research Service, National Assembly member Jeong-woo Kil and Seoul National University’s Cheol-hee Park. In concluding the two-hour discussion, Moon stated that Asia may be dealing more with “imagined threats…and intentions” as such struggles can be manipulated to serve the needs of policymakers in their own countries to justify change.  

Please view the video above to see the entire discussion, and learn more about the conference or view Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Russel's keynote speech on our webpage.