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Competing Visions for Asia’s Future

March 30, 2018

Daniel Blumenthal, Director of Asian Studies, American Enterprise Institute
Kent E. Calder, Director of Asia Programs and Director of Edwin O. Reischauer Center for East Asian Studies, Johns Hopkins SAIS
Ling Chen, Assistant Professor of International Political Economy, Johns Hopkins SAIS
Karl D. Jackson, C.V. Starr Distinguished Professor of Southeast Asia Studies, Johns Hopkins SAIS
James Person, Research Director, US-Korea Institute, Johns Hopkins SAIS  
Yun Sun, co-Director of East Asia Program and Director of China Program, Stimson Center

Students hosted the school’s 7th annual Asia conference at the Washington, DC campus featuring speakers from the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), the Stimson Center, students from several of the school’s academic programs, and academic experts from other universities active in Asia relations. 

This year’s theme, Competing Visions for Asia’s Future, focuses on the strategic directions of major countries across the Asia-Pacific region and how these nations are outlining and seeking support for their distinct visions for a more interconnected and prosperous Asia. 

Panel 1 explored “Major Power Cooperation and Competition.” Global Theory and History concentrator V. Ignatius Randy Kasasih presented his case, “The Role of ASEAN Mechanism in Managing in the 21st Century Great Power Competition.” Yanqi Luo of Fudan University shared insights on the topic “To Shape and Restrict: United States, Rise of China, and Complexity in Asia-Pacific.” 

Asuka Matsumoto of the Reischauer Center provided insights on “Japan’s Concept Building on the Eurasian Continent and the Indo-Pacific: Comparative Analysis of the Present and Future Trade, Security, and International Assistance Frameworks.” Ariel Petrovics of the University of California, Davis presented “Inducing De-proliferation: Foreign Policy Lessons from the North Korean Nuclear Crisis.” 

Panel 2 focused on “China at the Center of the World Stage.” Alvin A. Camba of Johns Hopkins University spoke on “Sinews of Politics: State Grid Corporation of China and Rent Seeking Investment Coalitions of the Philippines.” M. Patrick Hulme of the University of California, San Diego presented “International Law with Chinese Characteristics.” Southeast Asia Studies doctoral candidate Anand Mishra shared his perspectives on the “Strategic Landscape of the Bay of Bengal and Foreign Policy Making Process of India & China.” 

Panel 3 reviewed Economic and Domestic Transformations. China Studies concentrator Naomi Garcia spoke on “Systemic Problems in the Republic of Korea Arising from Park Chung-hee’s Economic Authoritarianism.” Kevin Kim of Catholic University discussed “The Formulation of Self-Development: Kim Jong-un’s Ideology?” Jian Xu of Emory University presented “Unsolicited Justice: Does FCPA Prosecutions Ameliorate Local Corruption?” 

This year the conference featured a policy debate on the topic of nuclear proliferation in Asia. Students argued for and against the proposition that the United States can and should maintain its extended deterrence in Asia. Arguing the case for were Korea Studies concentrator Sam Crosby and International Political Economy concentrator Spencer Gross. Opposing the proposition were Conflict Management concentrator Swetha Ramachandran and Evan Sankey of the Reischauer Center.