China’s Military Development and the U.S.-Japan Alliance

The security environment in the Asia Pacific region is evolving quickly. Key among several trends is the accelerating development of the People’s Liberation Army’s programs and capabilities, which have expanded rapidly over the past two decades. While the People’s Republic of China (PRC) insists that its military advancements are peaceful in nature, U.S. allies and partners in the region continue to question Beijing’s intentions in light of China’s various territorial and historical disputes with its neighbors. As East Asia experiences shifts in the security and political landscape, the U.S.-Japan alliance continues to play a critical role toward maintaining peace and stability in the region.

This conference will bring together Japanese scholars and American experts to discuss the PRC’s overall military strategy and capabilities, assess its future programs and plans, and discuss the implications for the U.S.-Japan alliance and the region.

Schedule:

9:00 – 9:30 AM
Breakfast

9:30 – 10:45 AM
Panel One: Chinese Regional Military Strategy

Scott Harold
Full Political Scientist, Deputy Director, Center for Asia Pacific Policy, RAND Corporation

Chisako Masuo
Associate Professor, Graduate School of Social and Cultural Studies, Kyushu University; Currently a Coordinate Research Scholar at Harvard-Yenching Institute

Dennis Blasko
Independent Analyst

Moderator: Randy Schriver
President and CEO, Project 2049 Institute

10:45 – 10:55 AM
Break

10:55 – 12:10 PM
Panel Two: Chinese Military Capabilities

Tetsuo Kotani
Senior Research Fellow, Japan Institute of International Affairs (JIIA)

Akira Marusaki
Deputy Director, Strategic Intelligence Analysis Office, Defense Intelligence Division, Bureau of Defense Policy, Ministry of Defense (MOD), Japan

Dean Cheng
Senior Research Fellow, Asian Studies Center, Heritage Foundation

Moderator: Mark Stokes
Executive Director, Project 2049 Institute

12:10 – 1:10 PM
Lunch Keynote

Brigadier General David R. Stilwell
Deputy Director for Politico-Military Affairs for Asia, Joint Staff, the Pentagon

1:15 – 2:30 PM
Panel Three: U.S. Japan Defense Cooperation

Sugio Takahashi
Senior Fellow, National Institute for Defense Studies (NIDS), Japan

Hiroko Maeda
Research Fellow, PHP Research Institute, Japan

Emma Chanlett-Avery
Specialist, Asian Affairs, Congressional Research Service

Moderator: Ian Easton
Research Fellow, Project 2049 Institute