Indo-Pacific Economic Framework: Negotiating and Implementation Challenges for the US

As the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) negotiations intensify, significant challenges await the United States (US), both in successfully concluding an agreement that achieves US objectives, as well as ensuring successful implementation of the agreement once concluded.

Impact of regional trade agreements on the IPEF

The Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) seeks to establish the United States (US) as the primary rule-setter in the Asia Pacific (APAC), a position it has ceded to China in recent years. The reciprocal benefits for the APAC are not so evident. Many in the region are not keen to choose sides and as a trade pact, it compares poorly with the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

Japan’s Economic Realism and Approach to Indo-Pacific Engagement, Resilience, and Rule-Setting

This paper examines Japan’s strategic priorities pertaining to the IPEF, their connection to Japan’s relationship with China and the US, and the actions being taken for successful implementation of the IPEF.

Much Ado about Something? Australia’s Views on IPEF’s Prospects

This paper by Peter Draper discusses Australian perspectives on the IPEF’s anticipated outcomes, negotiation challenges and implementation issues.

Perspectives on IPEF from Aotearoa New Zealand

This paper articulates the rationale behind New Zealand’s decision to join the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) based on a study of official documents, publicly available submissions and other printed materials, as well as conversations with a number of experts.

Voluntary Party Quotas: Japan’s Status Quo and Lessons from Germany

Japan has a long lack of female lawmakers. According to the gender gap report released by the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) in June, Japan’s ranking was the lowest ever, 125th out of 146 countries, especially in the political field, where it ranked 138th. In fact, if we look at the percentage of women in parliament: in the first postwar 1946 general election, the ratio of women in the House of Representatives (HR) was 8.4%, and in the most recent 2021 general election, it stood at 9.7%. There has been virtually no increase for around 70 years. Even in the most recent national election, the 2022 House of Councillors election, the ratio of women elected stood at 25.8%.

The Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF): Approach, Challenges and Prospects

This introductory chapter, written by Amitendu Palit and Ramita Iyer, serves as an entry point to the IPEF Discussion Paper Series and offers an overview of the IPEF’s approach, challenges, and prospects.

The Great Supply Chain Shift from China to South Asia?

Dieser Essay erörtert das Konzept globaler Lieferketten, den industriellen Aufstieg Ostasiens, die Triebkräfte hinter der Verlagerung von Lieferketten aus China, die Aussichten Südasiens, die Bedeutung Indiens als komplementäre Drehscheibe und die politischen Lehren aus dem industriellen Erfolg Ostasiens.

G7 in Hiroshima

Ein kritischer Wendepunkt

Angesichts des russischen Krieges in der Ukraine und eines zunehmend angespannten internationalen Umfelds, wollen Japan und die anderen G7-Staaten den diesjährigen Gipfel im Namen des Friedens gestalten. Hiroshima, der Wahlkreis von Premierminister Kishida, auf den am 6. August 1945 die erste offensive Nuklearwaffe der Geschichte abgeworfen wurde, soll alle G7-Nationen an ihr Engagement für Frieden und Einheit in Zeiten internationaler Unsicherheiten erinnern. Das diesjährige Treffen zeichnet sich durch einen inklusiveren Ansatz aus, da sieben Nicht-Mitglieder als Beobachter eingeladen wurden und die G7 ihren Blick auf den globalen Süden richtet, um einen umfassenderen politischen und wirtschaftlichen Ansatz zu formulieren, der die Entwicklungsländer und Länder mit mittlerem Einkommen in künftige politische Entwürfe einbezieht. Trotz der einheitlichen Haltung der G7-Mitgliedsstaaten bringt jede Nation einen spezifischen Interessenschwerpunkt in die Diskussion ein. Für Japan stehen die Themen nukleare Abrüstung und Nichtverbreitung sowie Energiesicherheit und Stärkung des indopazifischen Raums im Vordergrund, während für Deutschland die globalen Auswirkungen des russisch-ukrainischen Krieges und die kontinuierliche Unterstützung der Weltgemeinschaft für die Ukraine im Vordergrund stehen.

Japan’s Self-Defense Capability: “Minimum Extent Necessary”

On the current revision of three key documents defining the future of Japan’s self-defense

The government and ruling parties proactively worked towards revisions of the three key defense documents, including the National Security Strategy, and these have recently received Cabinet approval. At the time of writing of this paper, Russian aggression against Ukraine, China's military actions, and North Korea's intermittent missile launches have had a major impact on the general public’s awareness of national security. Given the current situation, it is reasonable to assume that the security environment around Japan will continue to deteriorate. Japan has long maintained an exclusively defense-oriented policy. Thus, in the event of an armed attack, Japan is constrained to using force to the “minimum extent necessary” beyond of proportionality.