Clements-Strauss Asia Policy Program and KEI Co-Host Event on Economic Security

On October 18th, the Clements-Strauss Asia Policy Program co-hosted a two-panel event on Economic Security in the Indo-Pacific with the Korea Economic Institute of America. The day kicked off with brief introductions by Dr. Sheena Chestnut Greitens, Asia Policy Director, and Troy Stangarone, KEI Senior Director and Fellow.

The first panel focused on “The View from Tokyo and Seoul”. Dr. June Park, Visiting Fellow of the Middle East Council on Global Affairs, highlighted how individual countries may evaluate policy implications on their own economy security and supply chains. Dr. Kazuto Suzuki, Professor of Science and Technology Policy at the Graduate School of Public Policy at University of Tokyo, noted that Japan’s economic security has been a “harbinger” for economic security, leading the way in some targeted legislation and ministerial positions. Finally, Yeo Han-koo, Former Trade Minister of the Republic of Korea and Senior Fellow at the Peterson Institute of International Economics, provided feedback on the panelists’ comments.

The second panel was dedicated to “The View from Washington and Beijing”. Dr. Andrea Viski, Senior Fellow and Director of the Trade and Investment Security Program at the Stimson Center, touched on the growing interest in the overlap between human rights, economic security, and technology advancements, as well as incentives for cooperation with U.S. policies. Dr. Audrye Wong, Assistant Professor of Political Science and International Relations at the University of Southern California, focused on how countries can manage the added risks that come with economic interaction with China. Dr. Stephan Haggard (virtual), Director of the Korea-Pacific Program at UC San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy, provided critical feedback to the panelists.

You can find a full schedule of the event here and photos here.

While on campus, panelists had the opportunity to meet with Clements Center Undergraduate Fellows to share their research and discuss career trajectories. KEI staff members, Clint Work and Mai Anna Pressley, hosted an information session about careers in foreign policy for UT students, as well as a multilateral simulation with Clements Center Undergraduate Fellows. During the interactive simulation, fellows had the opportunity to adopt the role of an Indo-Pacific nation and participate in mock multilateral negotiations about nuclear non-proliferation.