Organizer: The Asia Foundation

In the past U.S. administration, long-standing assumptions about the global political order were repeatedly questioned, and actions were taken that represented unexpected departures from established U.S. foreign policy positions. During this time, Asians responded with a mix of confusion, concern, relief, and approval. Many feared the United States might withdraw from the region. This never happened, but many Asians still believed that the U.S. was insufficiently engaged. One durable truth, however, is that Asia remains a vast, diverse, and complex region full of conflicting trends and differing interpretations. While there are vocal minorities in Asia opposed to any U.S. presence, Asian nations, by and large, want a United States that is engaged in their region. But what should America’s role be?

To help address this question, a select group of leading political, security and economic, and trade specialists from China, India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Nepal, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam were charged with writing a report and recommendations for U.S. policymakers. The authors will share their perspectives on U.S. policies and prospects in Northeast, South, and Southeast Asia.

Speakers:

H.E. Han Sung-Joo, report chair and Chairman of the Asan Institute for Policy Studies and Professor Emeritus at Korea University

Kirida Bhaopichitr, report co-chair and Director of TDRI Economic Intelligence Service, Thailand Development Research Institute

C. Raja Mohan, report co-chair and Director of the Institute of South Asian Studies, National University of Singapore

Moderator:

John J. Brandon, Senior Director, International Relations Programs and Associate Director, The Asia Foundation, Washington D.C.

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