Virtual ThinkTalk: Towards a Free and Open Indo-Pacific: Challenges and Opportunities
The international community, especially maritime nations such as Japan and Bahrain, share a fundamental interest in achieving a free and open maritime order based on the rule of law in the Indo-Pacific region, stretching from the Asia-Pacific through the Indian Ocean to the Middle East and Africa. With the further emergence of various threats, including the severe security environment in the Indo-Pacific region, piracy, terrorism, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and natural disasters, there is a growing need for the countries of the region to cooperate toward a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific.”
From this perspective, Japan is promoting the “Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP),” in order to bring stability and prosperity to any country. Dr. Yuichi HOSOYA, Professor of International Politics in the Faculty of Law at Keio University in Tokyo, discussed the potential challenges and opportunities towards a FOIP.
Introductory remarks were given by HE Hideki Ito, Ambassador of Japan to Bahrain and HE Dr. Hamad Abdulla, Executive Director of Derasat, moderated by Dr. Omar Al-Ubaidly, Director of Research & Studies at Derasat, the took place on Thursday 25th March at 10.00 (Bahrain-time) via Zoom.
Professor Yuichi Hosoya
Professor of International Politics, Keio University, Tokyo
Yuichi Hosoya, Ph.D., is professor of international politics at Keio University, Tokyo. Professor Hosoya is Managing Director & Research Director at the Asia-Pacific Initiative, Tokyo. He is also Senior Researcher at the Nakasone Peace Institute (NPI), Senior Fellow at The Tokyo Foundation for Policy Research, and also Senior Adjunct Fellow at the Japan Institute of International Affairs (JIIA). Professor Hosoya was a member of Prime Minister’s Advisory Panel on Reconstruction of the Legal Basis for Security (2013-14), and Prime Minister’s Advisory Panel on National Security and Defense Capabilities (2013). Professor Hosoya studied international politics at Rikkyo (BA), Birmingham (MIS), and Keio (Ph.D.). He was a visiting professor and Japan Chair (2009–2010) at Sciences-Po in Paris (Institut d’Études Politiques) and a visiting fellow (Fulbright Fellow, 2008–2009) at Princeton University. His research interests include the postwar international history, British diplomatic history, Japanese foreign and security policy, and contemporary East Asian international politics. His most recent publications include, Security Politics: Legislation for a New Security Environment (Tokyo: JPIC, 2019) ; History, Memory & Politics in Postwar Japan (Co-editor, Lynne Rienner: Boulder, 2020); and “Japan’s Security Policy in East Asia”, in Yul Sohn and T.J. Pempel (eds.), Japan and Asia’s Contested Order: The Interplay of Security, Economics, and Identity (Palgrave, 2018). His comments appeared at New York Times, Washington Post, Financial Times, USA Today, Die Welt and Le Monde, as well as at major Japanese media.
Dr. Omar Al-Ubaydli
Director of Studies & Research, Bahrain Center for Strategic, International and Energy Studies (Derasat)
Omar Al-Ubaydli is Director of Studies and Research, and Director of Economics and Energy Studies. He previously worked as an Assistant Professor of Economics at George Mason University, USA, as well as being a member of Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell’s Joint Advisory Board of Economists. Dr. Al-Ubaydli received his BA in Economics from the University of Cambridge (Queens’ College) and his MA and PhD in Economics from the University of Chicago. Dr. Al-Ubaydli’s research has been published in several international, peer-reviewed journals and has been featured by media outlets including the Economist magazine.