In the future, the name of the game in international security and international relations at large will be competition – amongst global, regional, and emerging powers. Much of the focus is rightly on China and Russia but patterns of interaction among the dominant players are constantly changing. If the West is to engage effectively in the wider Indo-Pacific, it must better understand the dynamics therein. There are a range of emerging economic and military powers – these include Australia, India, Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam – each with their individual, regional and international security concerns. There are numerous disputes which could impact international security, most notably tensions in the Korean Peninsula and across the Straits of Taiwan. What are the main security concerns in this region and what should the West, specifically, do about it?
Prof. Tosh Minohara, Professor, Kobe University, Chairman, Research Institute for Indo-Pacific Affairs (online)
David Merkle, Advisor for China and Southeast Asia Konrad Adenauer Foundation
H.E. Baiba Braže, Ambassador for Special Assignments, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia
Peter Jennings, Director of Strategic Analysis Australia (online)
Moderator: Stuart Lau, EU-China Correspondent for POLITICO Europe