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Beyond Indo-Pacific, Toward Great Power Competition:

On German Indo-Pacific Engagement Under the New Government

Germany’s new government was formed in December 2021, after sixteen years of Merkel’s administration. While continued Indo-Pacific engagement is required, the implementation of the regional strategy may waver under the new administration. Further, the divergence of strategic interest in the Indo-Pacific strategy among countries of the EU undermines its security dimension. This article proposes to differentiate multilateral efforts to shape a ‘rules-based international order’ in the Indo-Pacific region and military engagement in the ‘security realm’ toward the US-China great power competition. By doing so, Germany and the EU can progress in their Indo-Pacific policy and cooperation with Japan’s free and open Indo-Pacific vision and ASEAN’s Indo-Pacific outlook and make a military contribution to regional security.

COVID-19 and the Future of Doing Business in Asia

Towards A Better Normal for SMEs and Workers

As a follow up to the 'COVID-19 and the future of doing business in Asia' which discussed how small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in selected East and Southeast Asian countries had to improve their agility, innovation, and resilience in response to the pandemic, the new volume is more in-depth and provides a more thorough discussion on the insights for policies, business strategies, and international relations. The report specifically focuses on SMEs in Japan, Singapore, Thailand, and the Philippines and looks into their corresponding strategic crisis responses as they sought to ensure business continuity while concurrently protecting the welfare of their workers and adhering to the safety protocols imposed by the government.

Path to Success: How Women-Owned Businesses Transform in the Era of Digitalisation

Vietnam Case Study

One of three case studies that were published in 2022, the Vietnam case study investigates whether digitalisation offers opportunities to women-owned small and medium-sized enterprises (WSMEs) to overcome gender-related challenges in Vietnam and provides policy and practical recommendations to all stakeholders. It is part of a continuation of the same study conducted in 2020 by the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung's (KAS) Regional Economic Programme Asia (SOPAS) and Woomentum, focusing on the role of digitalisation in helping WSMEs navigate throughout the COVID-19 crisis. The Vietnam Case Study is structured around four pillars: 1) access to financing; 2) access to mentoring, networking, and skills; 3) business process management; 4) crisis management (COVID-19).

Path to Success: How Women-Owned Businesses Transform in the Era of Digitalisation

Singapore Case Study

One of three case studies that were published in 2022, the Singapore case study investigates whether digitalisation offers opportunities to women-owned small and medium-sized enterprises (WSMEs) to overcome gender-related challenges in Singapore and provides policy and practical recommendations to stakeholders, such as policymakers, private sector, and business associations, on mitigating obstacles to digitalisation faced by WSMEs. It is part of a continuation of the same study conducted in 2020 by the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung's (KAS) Regional Economic Programme Asia (SOPAS) and Woomentum, focusing on the role of digitalization in helping WSMEs navigate throughout the COVID-19 crisis. The Singapore case study was carried out between April and July 2021 and was structured around four pillars: 1) access to financing; 2) access to mentoring, networking, and skills; 3) business process management; 4) crisis management (COVID-19).

Public Health in Asia during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Global Health Governance, Migrant Labour, and International Health Crises

Every nation in Asia has dealt with COVID-19 differently and with varying levels of success in the absence of clear and effective leadership from the World Health Organization (WHO). As a result, WHO’s role in Asia as a global health organization is coming under increasing pressure. As its credibility is slowly being eroded by public displays of incompetence and negligence, it has also become an arena of contestation. Moreover, while the pandemic continues to undermine the future of global health governance as a whole, the highly interdependent economies in Asia have exposed the speed with which pandemics can spread, as intensive regional travel and business connections have caused every area in the region to be hit hard. The migrant labour necessary to sustain globalized economies has been strained and the security of international workers is now more precarious than ever, as millions have been left stranded, seen their entry blocked, or have limited access to health services. This volume by the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung's (KAS) Regional Economic Programme Asia (SOPAS), Leiden Asia Centre, and the International Academic Forum provides an accessible framework for understanding the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in Asia, with a specific emphasis on global governance in health and labour.

Discussions on Constitutional Amendments

Momentum and Issues

This year’s ordinary Diet session has been convened here in Japan. The COVID-19 response unsurprisingly remains the core topic of discussion, while the Economic Security Promotion Bill will also be another focal point. However, the writer attaches particular significance to the discussions on constitutional amendments. The main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP), which takes a cautious stance on constitutional revision, had initially been reluctant to hold the Diet committee responsible for such discussions (the Commission on the Constitution) until after the recent general election had been held.  Nonetheless, the CDP changed its stance, agreeing to hold the Commission "on its scheduled days insofar as is possible". Meanwhile, other opposition parties, the Japan Innovation Party (JIP), as well as the Democratic Party For the People (DPFP) and the Yushi no Kai, which had just formed a new In-House Group (caucus) after the general election, took the position of the ruling side (Ruling Parties and Cooperative In-House Group Consultation Body:与党及び協力会派懇談会) in the House of Representatives' Commission on the Constitution. These moves were brought about by the new political situation that emerged after last year's general election. This paper summarises the positions of each party and discusses future prospects and issues surrounding the discussions on constitutional amendments. The writer would like to emphasise that constitutional reform will continue to require time, great effort, and great patience from each party and In-House group, as well as public understanding.

The Path to Success: How Women-owned Businesses Transform in the Era of Digitalization Volume 2

Case Studies from Vietnam, South Korea and Singapore

This study is the second volume of “The Path to Success: How Women-owned Businesses Transform in the Era of Digitalization”. The second volume presents case studies on Women-owned Small- and Medium-sized Enterprises (WSMEs) from Vietnam, South Korea, and Singapore. This research project is a continuation of the same study conducted in 2020 by the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung's (KAS) Regional Economic Programme Asia (SOPAS) and Woomentum, focusing on the role of digitalization in helping WSMEs navigate throughout the COVID-19 crisis. The main findings of this present study are presented and structured around four pillars: 1) Access to Financing; 2) Access to Mentoring, Networking, and Skills; 3) Business Processes and Management; 4) Crisis Management (COVID-19). Notable improvements in the second volume include: (1) WSMEs' Stakeholders Map, (2) WSMEs' Digital Maturity Index, and (3) The Policy Cycle Stages.

Abe’s Long Shadow—Japan Struggles Toward a Political Awakening

Fumio Kishida was confirmed in office as prime minister at the constituent session of the new parliament on 10 November. In her sixteen years in office, outgoing German Chancellor Angela Merkel has seen a total of ten Japanese prime ministers come and go. Fumio Kishida, the 101st prime minister, is unlikely to meet her in person again, yet the numbers speak volumes with regard to Japan’s rotating government. The concern that Japan will once again fall into a long period of changing prime ministers is justified, as the Abe era weighs heavily on the party and the government.

Abes langer Schatten – Japan müht sich in den politischen Aufbruch

Fumio Kishida wurde am 11. November auf der konstituierenden Sitzung des neuen Parlaments als Premierminister im Amt bestätigt. In ihrer sechzehnjährigen Amtszeit hat die scheidende Bundeskanzlerin Angela Merkel insgesamt zehn Premierminister erlebt. Fumio Kishida, den Hundertsten, wird sie vermutlich nicht mehr persönlich treffen, dennoch sprechen die Zahlen Bände im Hinblick auf die rotierenden Regierungen Japans. Die Sorge ist berechtigt, dass Japan erneut in eine lange Phase wechselnder Premierminister verfällt, denn die Abe-Ära lastet schwer auf Partei und Regierung.

General Election 2021

Results and Implications

The current ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Komeito won the 2021 general election. Fumio Kishida took over the Prime Ministership from Yoshide Suga only weeks before and has already pledged many reforms for the new government and Diet to put in action. This includes a ‘new capitalism’, revised distribution policy, and economic security.