No images? Click here APRIL 2024Australia-Japan-US relationship in the spotlightIn a month with public holidays, school holidays and a number of staff traveling, the pace has not slowed either at the United States Studies Centre (USSC) or in US politics and foreign policy. In addition to responding to the release of Australia’s National Defence Strategy, we published two major reports this month looking at US-Japan-Australia relations. Aligning values and interests: Japanese and Australian democracy support in the Pacific and Southeast Asia is a multi-authored report edited by USSC Non-Resident Senior Fellow Dr Lavina Lee. It features authors from both Australia and Japan in analysing their current strengths and future opportunities in countering coercion through democracy support. Another newly released report turns from soft power to hard power. Working with researchers from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), we surveyed experts across Japan, Australia and the United States on their assessment of the implementation of Japan’s National Defense Strategy. While there was a strong consensus across all three countries on the overarching principles of the strategy, opinions differed on the approach towards implementation. This highlights an area of critical work for all three countries as they work on implementing not just defence strategies, but consider additional collaboration on efforts like AUKUS. Yet, even with this activity, we are heavily focused on major activities in the next two months. Firstly, in May, we will launch our 2024 Red Book | Blue Book to provide our analysis of what to expect under a second Biden or second Trump administration. If you want to be the first to know when this report is launched, make sure to sign up to our research notifications here. Finally, we are happy to announce that five Australian Government department heads will join us for our Economic security in a turbulent world conference in June. Secretary to the Australian Treasury Dr Stephen Kennedy PSM will deliver a keynote address and Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs Ms Jan Adams AO PSM will speak on a panel. Director-General of the Office of National Intelligence Mr Andrew Shearer, Secretary of the Department of Home Affairs Ms Stephanie Foster PSM and Secretary of the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water Mr David Fredericks PSM will speak on a special panel at the conference dinner. Limited spaces are still available for the conference. Register here to secure your space. Election watch 2024 189 days to the US presidential electionNational polls in the United States tightened this month, signalling again what a tight election this will be. Former president Trump's courtroom drama took centre stage as the first of his criminal trials kicked off. Publications
Key dates
Looking for a US election expert? Contact us on ussc.media@sydney.edu.au. NEWS Cross-government roundtable to launch economic security playbookUSSC hosted a special cross-government roundtable to launch USSC Non-Resident Fellow’s Unlocking economic security: A strategic playbook for Australia. Experts from the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, the Treasury, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and the Office of National Intelligence met to discuss the policy impacts of the strategic framework set forth by Helen. First WITA brief publishedThis month, the Centre published the first brief as part of the Women in the Alliance initiative. In The Defence Trade Controls Amendment Bill 2023: The key to AUKUS? WITA Network member Amy McDonnell looks at key export control reforms on the Australian-side and assesses whether they are fit-for-purpose to facilitate the delivery of AUKUS. Japan-Australia-US expert survey findings releasedToday, USSC released its latest report with the CSIS, Operationalising Japan’s security role in Asia: A survey of experts in Japan, the United States and Australia. The report canvassed the views of 51 leading Australian experts, 65 leading Japanese experts and 59 leading US experts on the progress and priorities of Japan’s 2022 National Security Strategy, National Defense Strategy and Defense Build-up program. The survey found the biggest points of difference were not around values, but implementation. Where the American experts preferred integration, Japanese experts favoured indigenisation of defence procurement, even if it meant additional time and expense. The report was written by USSC CEO Dr Michael Green, CSIS Senior Adviser and Japan Chair Christopher Johnstone, USSC Director of Foreign Policy and Defence Prof. Peter Dean, CSIS Senior Fellow with the Japan Chair and Deputy Director for Asia Nicholas Szechenyi, USSC Research Fellow Tom Corben and USSC Research Associate Shizuka Takada and is now available for download. Announcing the US Presidential Election Study Tour27 October to 8 November, 2024 Who can apply: Senior undergraduate, and postgraduate students at the University of Sydney. Program highlights:
Financial assistance available:
Stay tuned for more information on the United States Studies Centre website. ussc.edu.au/global New report on Australia-Japan democracy promotionUSSC Non-Resident Senior Fellow Dr Lavina Lee spearheaded the report Aligning values and interests: Japanese and Australian democracy support in the Pacific and Southeast Asia which emphasises that while both Japan and Australia place heavy importance on providing aid and infrastructure in the region, without a push for democratic values it will fail to counter malign influences in the region. The report also features contributions from Chikako Kodama, Hitsubashi University Graduate School of Law PhD candidate; Dr John Lee, Hudson Institute Senior Fellow; Dr Yuki Miyoda, University of Tokyo Graduate School of Frontier Sciences project researcher; and Prof. Hiroaki Shiga, Yokohama National University professor at the Graduate School of International Social Sciences. The Australian ran an op-ed on the topic authored by Dr Lavina Lee. Visiting fellowships: JF-USSC Japan-Australia Dialogue and Exchange for Next GenerationThe Japan Foundation and United States Studies Centre at the University of Sydney have established two parallel and interrelated Australia-Japan fellowship programs to strengthen connections between Australian and Japanese policy experts and research institutes and to cultivate the next generation of policy-savvy Japan experts based in Australia and Australia experts based in Japan. Participants will experience field trips to Japan or Australia, writing opportunities, research engagements with key government and industry players, and mentorship by senior USSC experts – including Dr Michael J. Green, CEO of the USSC and Professor Peter Dean, Director of Foreign Policy and Defence Program. Applicants must meet all of the following criteria:
Deadline: 10 June 2024 USSC perspectivesAs the US presidential race solidified, US politics was a split screen this month between the campaign trail and the courtroom. Some of the biggest news was around ties with Japan, their potential inclusion in AUKUS and impacts on AUKUS Pillar II.
EVENT Commonwealth heads to speak at Economic Security ConferenceFive Australian Government departmental or agency heads will speak at our major international conference Economic security in a turbulent world, to be held in Sydney on 19 and 20 June. Dr Stephen Kennedy PSM, Secretary to the Australian Treasury, will deliver the keynote lunchtime address on 19 June. Mr Andrew Shearer, Director-General of the Office of National Intelligence, will be joined by Ms Stephanie Foster PSM, Secretary of the Department of Home Affairs, and Mr David Fredericks PSM, Secretary of the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, for a panel discussion on ‘Fusing security and economic interests: Practitioners’ perspectives’ at the conference dinner on 19 June. On 20 June, Ms Jan Adams AO PSM, Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, will be part of the final conference panel on ‘Reconciling security and prosperity: What’s at stake in 2024?’ Additional speakers include:
When: 19-20 June 2024 IN CASE YOU MISSED IT Videos and podcastsThe latest recordings from our webinars are available on our YouTube channel and USSC Live podcast. Find all of the Centre’s podcast recordings here. You can now listen to USSC Briefing Room on YouTube.
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