AP Initiative Senior Research Fellow Yoichi Kato participated in the international symposium, “Economic Integration in Asia Pacific and Cooperation Between Japan and China Under Trump Administration,” held by the Center for Japanese Studies, Fudan University in Shanghai on November 11 to 12, 2017. He acted as moderator of the symposium, in addition to sharing his own view.

In his presentation, “Change in Regional Security Environment and Japan’s Strategic Choices,” he commented on President Trump’s visit to Japan and presented his outlook over future Japan-China relations. He pointed out that although the bilateral relations are on course of recovery in general, four risk factors still remain: First is the regional security issues (North Korea, Taiwan); second is the issues of territorial dispute (the East China Sea, the South China Sea); third is the issue of strategies (‘One Belt, One Road’ vs. ‘Free and Open India and Pacific Strategy’); and fourth is the domestic political issues in Japan (official visit to the Yasukuni Shrine, constitutional amendment). In particular, he explained how China’s ‘One Belt, One Road’ and Prime Minister Abe’s ‘Free and Open India and Pacific Strategy,’ which came out last year, will get entangled and effect on Japan-China relations as well as security environment in the region.