CSIS scholars Michael Green and David Berteau discuss their project findings on U.S. forward presence in the Asia-Pacific. This seminar was the first of a series of events at CSIS in Fall 2012 that covered different aspects of U.S. policy in Asia. Source: CSIS External Relations.
Over the past two weeks our CSIS Asia Team hosted a series of high profile events on developments in the Asia-Pacific and the implications for U.S. foreign policy. Here at cogitASIA
On Monday, September 24 CSIS Senior Vice President for Asia & Japan Chair Michael Green, along with David Berteau, CSIS Senior Vice President & Director of International Security Program, rolled out a Congressionally mandated independent review of U.S. Force Posture Strategy in Asia-Pacific. Following two expert filled panels, the luncheon keynote was provided by U.S. Principal Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, Dr. Kathleen Hicks:
The discussion on the future of the U.S. defense posture in the region provided context for the decisions facing U.S. policymakers & PACOM on how to position U.S. military assets in Asia. You can watch the full video of the event here, and read the full report on our website, which included contributions from each of our Asia Program Directors, Chris Johnson, Ernie Bower, Victor Cha, and Ambassador Karl Inderfurth.
On Tuesday, September 25, our new Chair for Southeast Asia Studies hosted the Myanmar Conference @CSIS , a day long seminar that focused on recent developments and reforms in that country. Senior scholars, Ernie Bower, Murray Hiebert, Chris Johnson, and Michael Green, traveled to Myanmar in late August for a series of interviews with numerous members of government, the opposition party, the business community, and civil society. Readers can see how U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian & Pacific Affairs, Dr. Kurt Campbell delivered the following keynote:
The CSIS delegation participants developed a series of recommendations that they discuss here and their trip summary is available on cogitASIA here:
Not to be outdone the CSIS Freeman Chair in China Studies hosted its own packed house for a discussion of U.S. – China Relations & the 18th Party Congress last Wednesday, September 26. Former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage, former U.S. Ambassador to China J. Stapleton Roy, and Freeman Chair holder Chris Johnson broke down the prospects for China’s leadership transition & its effects on the bilateral relationship, including Xi Jinping’s future, the impact of Bo Xilai’s fall, and the Communist Party’s economic policy choices. You can watch the entire discussion here.
On the same day, the Chair for Southeast Asia Studies hosted the Philippines Conference @ CSIS, an all day conference focused on the U.S. – Philippines alliance, and Manila’s role in the region. Panels featured several key ministers in the Philippines cabinet and senior U.S. government officials including Mark Lippert, U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian & Pacific Security Affairs and Assistant Secretary Kurt Campbell for his second appearance of the week. One of the most compelling parts of the conference included remarks by the Philippines Secretary of Foreign Affairs Albert Del Rosario, which you can see here:
At the end of the week, the Derwin Pereira Indonesia Initiative of the Chair for Southeast Asia Studies held its first public event focused on Indonesia’s economic future. The event featured a talk by Dr. Muhamad Chatib Basri. Readers can learn more here.
On October 2, the CSIS Freeman Chair in China Studies hosted a discussion of China’s micro-economic indicators modeled on the Federal Biege Book, based on unique economic data gathered in China, by the China Biege Book company. The event provided distinct insights on regional economic data and the performance of specific industry sectors. Those interested can listen to the audio of the event, moderated by Chris Johnson, here.
