Navigating U.S. – China Competition and the International Order: Japan’s Strategic Vision

Name: Navigating U.S. – China Competition and the International Order: Japan’s Strategic Vision
Start: 2025-09-12T16:15:00-07:00
End: 2025-09-12T17:45:00-07:00
Location: Faculty Club, Seaborg Room, UC Berkeley Campus

Sep 12 2025, 4:15 pm - 5:45 pm

Free

Faculty Club, Seaborg Room, UC Berkeley Campus

Minor Ln
Berkeley, CA 94720 United States
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*In-person Event

Come join us and hear the conversation on how Japan and its allies around the world can shape a more stable and open future together.

The intensifying rivalry between the United States and China is reshaping the international order, characterized by fluid alignments and increased uncertainty. U.S. policy under the Trump administration reflects a transactional approach emphasizing allied burden-sharing and selective diplomatic engagement rather than a consistent pursuit of liberal hegemony or broad multilateral leadership. This dynamic has accelerated the erosion of established institutional guardrails—from the UN to regional frameworks—precisely when bottom-line thinking is most needed. At the same time, China’s strategic partnerships in the Global South and Russia’s enhanced cooperation with North Korea further complicate regional stability, notably on the Korean Peninsula.

Japan, despite its fragile domestic political foundations, recognizes it cannot merely respond passively to external pressures, such as increased defense spending requests. Rather, Tokyo aims to actively shape the international order through sustained alliance management with the U.S., proactive multilateral engagement involving European and Indo-Pacific partners, strengthened cooperation with Global South nations, and strong commitments to economic security, rules-based governance, and free trade. By emphasizing collective responsibility to uphold regional balances, prevent conflict escalation, and preserve open economic networks, Japan seeks to reinforce global stability. The lecture will end with recommendations and suggestions on how Japan and its allies can work together to handle the shifting global landscape.

Event Details

Date & Time:
Friday, September 12th from 4:15 P.M.
Doors open at 4:00 P.M.

Location: The Faculty Club (Seaborg Room*), UC Berkeley Campus
https://www.berkeley.edu/map/faculty-club/
*Stair access only (no elevator)

Agenda:
4:00 Registration
4:15-4:20 Program Begins – Opening Remarks, Consulate-General of Japan in San Francisco
4:20-4:50 Prof. Ryo Sahashi, Ph.D. | Professor of International Relations, Institute for Advanced Studies on Asia, The University of Tokyo
4:50-4:55 Discussant: Steven Vogel | Director of the Political Economy Program, Professor of Political Science and Political Economy, University of California, Berkeley
4:55-5:15 Q&A Session
5:15-5:45 General Reception