While the EU and Taiwan continue to strengthen their relations and pursue close cooperation on a wide array of issues, their relationship remains complex and under strict scrutiny from Beijing. In light of of the EU's pursuing of a "One China" policy, is there a limit to how far relations can go? Can there be friendly relations without diplomatic recognition? How does China interpret attempts by EU countries to economically and politically engage with Taiwan?

To help us answer these questions and more, YCAPS' Indo-Pacific Dialogue series is happy to welcome Dr. Zsuzsa Anna Ferenczy. Dr. Zsuzsa Anna Ferenczy is an Affiliated Scholar at the Department of Political Science of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (Free University of Brussels), Associated Research Fellow at the Institute for Security & Development Policy (ISDP Stockholm), Head of the Associates Network at 9DASHLINE and Research Fellow at Taiwan NextGen Foundation. Currently Zsuzsa is Adjunct Assistant Professor at the National Dong Hwa University in Hualien, Taiwan. With a PhD in European normative power vis-a-vis China, Zsuzsa’s research focuses on the EU’s approach to Taiwan in the context of EU-China relations and beyond, in the framework of the emerging geopolitical and geoeconomic dynamics in the Indo-Pacific region. She researches Taiwan’s efforts to position itself in regional economic frameworks and international organizations, exploring the dynamics that shape Taiwan’s self-perception, identity and foreign policy vis-a-vis South East Asia and Europe. In May 2019 Zsuzsa published her book, “Europe, China, and the Limits of Normative Power”.

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Based on his joint article "The errors of NATO’s East Asia engagement" with Linus Hagström from the Swedish Defence University, Dr Ulv Hanssen of Soka University will discuss their perspective of NATO's perceived errors and what it means for the Indo-Pacific region. Why is or is not NATO's engagement in the Indo-Pacific in the interest of NATO and the EU? Can policy makers separate the Indo-Pacific and European theatre? If there is engagement, what is the appropriate formula?

To help us answer these questions, YCAPS' Indo-Pacific Policy Dialogue is happy to welcome Professor Ulv Hanssen of Soka University to provide insight on these questions and more to glean clarity on NATO's engagement in East-Asia. Dr. Ulv Hanssen is an associate professor at Soka University's Faculty of Law and associate research fellow at the Swedish Institute of International Affairs. He holds a Ph.D. from Freie Universität Berlin (2017) in Japanese studies. His research interests are primarily Japanese foreign and security policy. He is currently engaged in a research project on the origins of Sweden-North Korea relations. He is the author of Temporal Identities and Security Policy in Postwar Japan (Routledge, 2020).

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AUKUS has elicited mixed impressions in the Indo-Pacific region from an example of a Cold -War mentality to support for the initiative anchoring deterrence capabilities in the region. How can we understand this new minilateral relationship? Why is it important? Are there ways for non-AUKUS members such as Japan and Canada to plug into this minilateral to add value?

To help us answer these questions, YCAPS' Indo-Pacific Policy Dialogue is happy to welcome Tom Corben, Research Fellow at the University of Sydney's United States Centre. Tom Corben is a Research Fellow in the Foreign Policy and Defence Program at the United States Studies Centre, where he works on US Indo-Pacific Strategy, regional strategic dynamics, defence industry and technology issues, and alliance modernisation trends. He was previously a resident Lloyd and Lilian Vasey Fellow with Pacific Forum in Hawaii, where he focused on Japanese and Korean politics and foreign policy, and Australia’s engagement with Northeast Asia. Tom has published and commented widely on these issues for a range of platforms including War on the Rocks, Nikkei Asia, the Australian Financial Review, and The Diplomat.

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Academics and policy makers across the globe who have an eye on US-China relations express worry over the inevitability of conflict, of the Thucydides’ Trap. The Thucydides’ Trap is a deadly pattern of structural stress that results when a rising power challenges a ruling one. Over the past 500 years, the conditions required to meet the Thucydides Trap have occurred sixteen times, and the result was war in twelve of them. In today’s context, as an unstoppable China meets an immovable America, are we spiraling towards an inevitable conflict between these two great powers, or is there a way to avoid it?

With this question in mind, YCAPS’ Indo-Pacific Policy Dialogue will host Dr. Ji Miao, a Senior Research Fellow at the Trilateral Cooperation Studies Center’s Institute of Asian Studies, at the China Foreign Affairs University to speak on the current state of US-China Relations from the Chinese perspective and if it is possible to avoid the Thucydides Trap or if we are indeed doomed to repeat history..

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In order to better understand the invasion of Ukraine and its implications for the Indo-Pacific and beyond, this Indo-Pacific Policy Dialogue in-person event is co-sponsored by JICUF and Ritsumeikan Asia-Pacific University (APU) to invite Sergiy Korsunsky, Ukrainian Ambassador to Japan to share his views. Participants will gain a better understanding of the invasion of Ukraine and its implications for the Indo-Pacific and beyond.

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YCAPS’ Indo-Pacific Policy Dialogue will host Sergiy Korsunsky, Ukraine Ambassador, and Colonel Andriil Bilenkyi, Ukraine Defense Attache to participate in a discussion moderated by John Bradford to explore "How the Invasion of Ukraine Matters for the Indo-Pacific."

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YCAP's Indo-Pacific Policy Dialogue will host Dr. Charles Edel, Charles Edel is the inaugural Australia Chair and a senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies to participate in a discussion moderated by Stephen NAGY, YCAP’s Director of Policy Studies to develop a better understanding of Australia’s relationship with the U.S. and other partners in the Indo-Pacific region.

For more information please see the event page.