[Event Report] Public Symposium: “Navigating in a World of Uncertainty: Challenges for Japan and Europe”

On October 15, 2024, the Center co-hosted a public symposium titled “Navigating in a World of Uncertainty: Challenges for Japan and Europe” in collaboration with the Centre for Security, Diplomacy and Strategy at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB-CSDS) and the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) Japan Office.

During the keynote session, we were deeply honored to receive insightful remarks from H.E. Petra Sigmund, Ambassador-Designate of the Federal Republic of Germany to Japan, and Mr. Katsuro Kitagawa, Director-General of the European Affairs Bureau at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Session 1 “Enhancing Deterrence” was moderated by Michito Tsuruoka, (Deputy Director, KCS; Associate Professor, Faculty of Policy Management, Keio University) and the session featured discussions between Luis Simón (Director, VUB-CSDS) and Satoru Mori (Deputy Director, KCS; Professor, Faculty of Law, Keio University) on the enhancement of NATO's engagement in the Indo-Pacific region and the strengthening of deterrence against China.

In Session 2 “Responding to China”, Giulia Tercovich (Assistant Director, VUB-CSDS) moderated the discussion between Eva Pejsova (Japan Chair, VUB-CSDS), Shinji Yamaguchi (Senior Fellow, China Division, Regional Studies Department, NIDS), and Marcin Jerzewski (Head of the Taiwan Office, EVC). Addressing the economic and security challenges posed by China, the panel discussed the vital importance of deterrence and economic integration, alongside the necessity for a unified European foreign policy.