The NPI "Ask What You Want to Know" series is a forum in which leading researchers discuss issues of current interest and field questions from attendees.

Amid the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, U.S. President Joe Biden visited Japan on May 22, 2022 for the first time since taking office and held talks with Prime Minister Kishida Fumio. On May 24, 2022, the Japan-U.S.-Australia-India (Quad) summit meeting was held in Tokyo. What were the key points of President Biden's visit to Japan? What can we learn from Secretary of State Antony Blinken's speech on U.S. policy toward China? What significance do India and Australia attach to the Quad? And what role do you think the Quad will play in the future? With these issues in mind, we spoke directly with experts on India, Australia, and the U.S.

Moderator:

Fujisaki Ichiro, NPI President

Panelists:

Izuyama Marie, Director, Security Studies Department, National Institute for Defense Studies

Satake Tomohiko, Senior Fellow, Policy Studies Department, National Institute for Defense Studies

Mori Satoru, Senior Fellow, NPI; Professor, Faculty of Law, Keio University

Active discussion was held with participation by attendees from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, other government offices, corporations, and the mass media. Questions from attendees were organized into the following four groups and posed to the panelists on the day of the event.

1. How do you view Biden's visit to Japan?

2. How does India view cooperation with Russia (BRICS) and with the U.S. (Quad)?

3. Can Australia, whose economy is highly dependent on China, take a hardline stance toward China in the medium to long term? What contribution can AUKUS make to regional security?

4. Is there anything more that Japan, the U.S., and Australia should be doing in the South Pacific region / Pacific Island Countries than they are doing now?