News from Berlin

German-Japanese Security Dialogue: Panel Discussion

April 03rd, 2014
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News from Berlin - A panel discussion organized by the Japanese-German Center Berlin, in cooperation with the Konrad Adenauer Foundation (Berlin) and the Japan Institute of International Affairs (Toyko), will take place on April 3rd at the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, Tiergartenstrasse. With the theme of “New Powers, New Challenges, New Responsibilities”, the discussion will focus on global responsibility and how Germany can work together with Asia to contribute to a safer global environment and a more secure political environment in East Asia.

The Japanese Government has recently readjusted several crucial aspects of Japan’s security policy, now describing Japan as a proactive contributor to peace. Japan recently established the National Security Council in late 2013, initiating a forum which will engage in strategic discussions with the Prime Minister on a regular basis on varying national security issues. Japan has also endorsed a new National Security Strategy and determined new defense guidelines for the armed forces. This recalibration of Japanese security policy is immersed in the globalized environment and tough political domain of the Asia-Pacific.

Likewise, Germany has recently revamped its own security policy, particularly in light of the Munich Security Conference held earlier this year, where Germany committed itself to security and foreign policy more decisively. Both Japan and Germany are facing the question of how their new security policies will fit within international politics. Germany needs to gain a greater understanding of the readjustment of Japanese politics in order to underpin a partnership of shared values, perspectives and approaches. Correspondingly, Japan should gain a greater understanding of the current German political dialogue to gain a clearer picture of the future of the German and European role in global politics.

In this panel discussion, Member of Parliament Mark Hauptmann and director of the German Institute for International and Security Affairs Volker Perthes, will debate the above issues with Miyake Kunihiko from the Canon Institute for Global Studies and Norio Maruyama, Deputy Director General of the European Affairs Bureau at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

News from Berlin - Berlin Global