Details

In cooperation with the Konrad Adenauer Tomono-kai the KAS Japan Office presented the internationally renowned Indian analyst on regional and security policy, Brahma Chellaney, author of the bestseller "Asian Juggernaut" (Harper 2010) and the newly released book "Water: Asia’s New Battleground" (Georgetown University Press 2011).

Professor Chellaney gave a presentation on "Asia's Changing Power Dynamics: How Japan and India Can Partner for Peace". Afterwards the contents of the presentation were be subject to a very interesting and long-going discussion moderated by Jörg Wolff.

The participants were high ranking representatives from ministries, government institutions, think tanks, the private sector, partner organizations from the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Japan and members of the Konrad Adenauer Tomono-kai.

Among the guests were

• the Indian Ambassador to Japan HE Alok Prasad,
• Masafumi Ishii, Ambassador for Policy Planning in International Security Policy at the MOFA,
• the Head of the Economic Department at the German Embassy in Tokyo Dr. Beate Maeder-Metcalf,
• Yoshie Shimaoka, CEO and Representative Director of the Arch International Financial Advisory Services Inc.
• Kenichi Suzuki from The Democratic Party of Japan
• Akio Hosono from the Japan International Cooperation Agency

In his presentation Brahma Chellaney laid out challenges as well as possible hindrances for Asia's future and envisioned different scenarios for coming. Asia had become the core and motor of geopolitical change. However, peace and stability of the continent were questioned by recent changes in power dynamics. In face of the foreseeable imbalance, investments in strengthening geopolitical stability had become inevitable necesseties. Therefore a number of Asian countries had found agreement in bilateral security cooperation, while new forums (TPP) were taking shape. All of that was laying ground for a net of intertwined strategic partnerships. In this regard, Prof Brahma Chellaney made a clear case for a deepened cooperation between the "natural allies" Japan and India, which could, based on their common values and interest, contribute an invaluable part to regional stability.

During the discusiion Ambassador Masafumi Ishii from the Japanese Ministry of Foregin Affairs rose to speak welcoming and supporting Brahma Chellaney's argument. Mr Ishii highlighted the enormous progress that was made in bilateral relations in the last years and also especially mentioned die multilateral developments in the scope of the East Asia Summit, which had rightfully re-integrated the United States in further plans for the whole region.

The Ambassador of India to Japan, HE Alok Prasad, also endorsed the presentation in its case for even closer relations between India and Japan. The two partner should unite in their effort so sustain regional stability and peace and expand their friendly relationship independent of other geopolitical phenomena in the region. Opportunities for further coordination would not least be given concerning arrangements for the future structure of international organizations.

With regards to the question for a role for Germany and Europe, Professor Chellaney referred to the term "comprehensive development": rapid economic growth in Asia in the last years and decades would not yet benefit societies, a further rise of the region was therefore not at all guaranteed. It was also misplaced to talk about a glooming europe, which was indeed much more advanced. Asia could and should learn a lot from the experiences and accomplishments of the old world.