India’s Af-Pak Policy: 2014 and Beyond
Co-sponsored by the Asia Society’s Global Policy Programs and the Rising Powers Initiative
Friday, April 12, 2013
3:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Asia Society Washington
Whittemore House
1526 New Hampshire Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20036
This event is free; registration is required
With the U.S. military drawdown in Afghanistan in 2014 and general elections in Pakistan this May, South Asian nations are developing policies and plans for a new era in the region’s politics. In this era, India’s diplomacy is expected to play a particularly important role in shaping the region.
On April 12th, Asia Society and the George Washington University will host Ambassador Shyam Saran for remarks on “India’s Af-Pak Policy: 2014 and Beyond.” The Ambassador will also take questions.
Ambassador Shyam Saran is Chairman of the National Security Advisory Board of India. He previously served as Foreign Secretary, India’s highest ranking career diplomatic post. Subsequently, he served as Prime Minister Singh’s Special Envoy for Indo-US Civil Nuclear Issues and Special Envoy and Chief Negotiator on Climate Change. Ambassador Saran joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1970, serving as Ambassador to Myanmar, Indonesia and Nepal, as well as High Commissioner to Mauritius.
To RSVP and for questions, please email AsiaDC@asiasociety.org or call 202-833-ASIA.
Japan’s Disaster Diplomacy: Fostering Military to Military Cooperation in the Asia-Pacific Region
Sponsored by the Rising Powers Initiative and the Sigur Center for Asian Studies
Thursday, March 28, 2013
12:30 pm – 1:45 pm
The Elliott School of International Affairs
Lindner Commons, 1957 E Street, NW; Room 602
Washington, DC 20052
Through strategically evolving disaster diplomacy in the Asia-Pacific region, Japan will be able to contribute to a more stable and peaceful international order in the region. Alongside principal humanitarian objectives, disaster relief operations that utilize military assets have the potential to institutionalize a framework for military to military cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region where there is little tradition of multilateral security cooperation. This presentation will begin with an analysis of Japan’s current disaster diplomacy, focusing on cooperation with the United States and Southeast Asian countries, and explore China’s growing naval capabilities in disaster-related operations. With this background in place, Mr. Hideshi Futori will then discuss Japan’s strategic initiative in the field and explain how international contributions through disaster diplomacy is a crucial core concept in considering Japan’s future national vision and identity.
Mr. Hideshi Futori is a Japan Scholar at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. He has been a Research Associate for the Program on U.S.-Japan Relations at the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs at Harvard University from 2011 to 2012 and a chairman of the Harvard Commemorative Cherry Tree Planting Initiative for the 100th anniversary of cherry trees given to the United States from Japan. Also Mr. Futori worked as a Japan Studies Fellow at the East-West Center in Washington, Sasakawa Peace Foundation Research Fellow at the Pacific Forum CSIS, and a Visiting Fellow at the Center for U.S.-Japan Studies and Cooperation at Vanderbilt University. Prior to his fellowship in the United States, Mr. Futori served as Chief of Staff at the office of Akihisa Nagashima, a House of Representatives member of Japan.
Please RSVP at go.gwu.edu/hideshi.