The foreign policy and politics panel, moderated by Dr Lauren Richardson, featured Professor Ryo Sahashi, Professor Alexander Bukh, and Professor Rumi Aoyama. The discussion expanded on the keynote address, delving deeper into Japan’s relations with key regional players and exploring the complexities of Japan’s foreign policy challenges.

• Professor Bukh provided an analysis of Japan-Russia relations, noting that the relationship has effectively reverted to a Cold War-era dynamic following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
• The panel discussed Japan’s shift from pursuing a resolution to the Northern Territories dispute with Russia to aligning with Western sanctions, albeit with some continued economic engagement.
• Japan-South Korea relations were examined, with the panel noting the recent improvement but cautioning about the potential fragility of this rapprochement due to domestic political dynamics in South Korea.
• Professor Aoyama offered insights into China-Japan relations, characterising them as relatively stable but increasingly strained, with economic ties remaining resilient despite political tensions.
• The discussion highlighted China’s changing approach to Japan, shifting from government-to-government engagement to a focus on people-to-people exchanges as a means of exerting pressure.
• Panellists explored Japan’s security concerns, noting that while China remains a primary focus, Japan faces simultaneous challenges from Russia and North Korea.
• The panel addressed Japan’s potential role in a Taiwan contingency, suggesting that Japan is preparing for various scenarios but faces limitations in its potential involvement.
• Discussions touched on Japan’s efforts to strengthen ties with Southeast Asian nations and its competition with China for influence in the region.
• The panellists debated the future of Japan’s constitutional revision efforts, noting that recent security policy changes and public opinion shifts have reduced the urgency of formal constitutional amendment.
• The session concluded with reflections on Japan’s need to balance its alliance with the United States, regional security concerns, and economic interests in an increasingly complex geopolitical environment.