Why Should We Care About the Indo-Pacific? reposted this
Sponsored by BowerGroupAsia
🏯 In our 2025 inaugural #podcast we welcome 🇺🇸U.S. Ambassador to 🇯🇵#Japan Rahm Emanuel to answer the question, "Why Should We Care About the U.S.-Japan Alliance?" Ambassador Emanuel joins co-hosts James Carouso and Ray Powell to discuss why the alliance is critical to the #security of both nations, and that of a vital but volatile region. In his characteristically forthright style, he explains how the Japan alliance strengthens America's strategic position, especially as it has been increasing its investments in its own defense. Multilateral cooperation among allies--a so-called "latticework--is, he says, an asymmetric advantage for the U.S. to offset an increasingly aggressive but still largely isolated 🇨🇳#China. Turning to #economic issues, the ambassador asserts that #trade imbalances don't tell the whole story, and that Japan is a major investor in the U.S. economy. Moreover, he makes the case that deterring China can't be seen solely in military terms, and we must consider economic statecraft as a key element of strategic power. Ambassador Emanuel talks about the evolution and impact of 2024's two major trilateral summits--one between the U.S., Japan and 🇰🇷#SouthKorea, and the other between the U.S., Japan and the 🇵🇭#Philippines. He explains that Japan has had an important role building regional resilience against coercion and aggression through its #defense and economic cooperation programs. Finally, he explains how he used social media to influence the conversation in East Asia, supporting Japan while calling out China for its malign actions and misleading messages. 📺 Watch the rest of our year-end special on YouTube: https://lnkd.in/gQ6GW57f Or listen on your favorite streaming service, such as: 🎧 Apple Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/gG49mRqy 🎧 Spotify: https://lnkd.in/g9PeFpfF 🎧 Amazon Music: https://lnkd.in/gibryvqg You can also e-mail us at indopacificpodcast@gmail.com with your questions and comments! Produced by Ian Ellis-Jones and IEJ Media. Sponsored by BowerGroupAsia, a strategic advisory firm that specializes in the Indo-Pacific. BGA applies unmatched expertise and experience to help clients navigate the world’s most complex and dynamic markets.