East Asia Insights
» Analysis
East Asia Insights is an occasional policy brief that was launched by JCIE in 2006 in order to share a Japanese perspective on critical issues and challenges facing the region. The briefs are authored by Hitoshi Tanaka, a senior fellow at JCIE and chairman of the Institute for International Strategy at the Japan Research Institute. He previously served as Japan’s deputy minister for foreign affairs. Opinions expressed in East Asia Insights are those of the author.

The North Korea Nuclear Crisis: Five Guiding Principles
July 2009
This edition of East Asia Insights analyzes five guiding principles for approaching the North Korea nuclear crisis; these include recognizing North Korea as a nuclear state, policy consistency among t…
A New Vision for the US-Japan Alliance
April 2009
This issue discusses the partnership between Japan and the United States, which must evolve into a more inclusive and comprehensive force for peace, stability, cooperation, and prosperity throughout t…
Getting China Policy Right
December 2008
This issue discusses the massive scale of China’s expansion and scope of its global influence, and the need for a renewed emphasis on getting China policy right to maintain continued prosperity and st…
Revisiting the North Korea Issue
October 2008
As the challenge of North Korea continues to loom large, the international community faces an environment of uncertainty following events such as Kim Jong-il’s health problems and Pyongyang’s recent m…
The Crisis of Global Governance and the Rise of East Asia
September 2008
With the November US presidential election approaching, this special edition incorporates and expands elements raised in previous issues, examining them in the context of the global governance system,…
Prospects for Japan's Domestic Politics and Implications for Its Foreign Policy
July 2008
Hitoshi Tanaka explores the potential impact of a change in government. How will events play out in Japan after the July 2007 election, and what kind of regional and global role will Japan be able to…
A Japanese Perspective on the China Question
May 2008
This issue presents a Japanese perspective on “The China Question” and offers a series of policy prescriptions about how Japan should engage its increasingly powerful neighbor in the years ahead.
Defining Normalcy: The Future Course of Japan's Foreign Policy
January 2008
This issue addresses the widespread misconceptions of what is “normal” for Japan, and the future of Japanese foreign policy, which aims to reconcile the need for leaders to actively pursue the nationa…
A Japanese Perspective on US Policy toward East Asia
November 2007
This issue contributes a series of suggestion, from the Japanese perspective, on how the United States can most effectively remain engaged and ensure the region’s continued peace and prosperity.
Japanese Foreign Policy Under Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda
October 2007
This issue addresses several questions about Fukuda’s election and its implications for Japan’s foreign policy, as Fukuda is likely to adopt a more subtle approach to foreign affairs.