One of our main activities is organising and hosting Luncheon Briefings on pertinent topics of EU-Asia relations. Beginning with an informal lunch, the Briefings usually last for 1.5 hours, including questions.

Attendees include EIAS members and other interested parties.

Experts wishing to discuss a possible topic for a Lucheon Briefing are invited to contact EIAS Direct Dr Willem van der Geest.

China’s Japan problem: Are We Headed for Confrontation?
Thursday, 20 April, 2006 from 13h00 – 14h30

Speaker: Dr Yang Jian, Senior Research Associate, Asian Century Institute, London
Chair: Dr Willem van der Geest, Director, European Institute for Asian Studies

Listen to the speaker being interviewed by Dr van der Geest (mp3)

The emergence of a new strategic balance in Asia as a result of China's rise looks set to create new pressures on Sino-Japanese relations. Many Chinese analysts are pessimistic about relations in the medium term, having discarded their hope that the bilateral relationship would improve once the 'Yasukuni-obsessed prime minister' leaves office in late 2006. With the possibility that an even more overtly nationalist prime minister will succeed Koizumi, some in China expect a decade of frequent frictions between the two countries.

China and Japan between them account for the most powerful military machines in the world after the USA and the two countries are the richest in the world in terms of hard currency reserves. The steady souring of Sino-Japanese relations since 1995 has been accompanied by, and in part caused by, the more outward reorientation of Japan's security policy and China's continued military modernisation. There is growing suspicion and resentment on both sides. What is the prognosis in the short term? What events could spark a crisis?

The European Institute for Asian Studies (EIAS) is honoured to welcome Dr Yang Jian to its premises to review possible scenarios for Sino-Japanese relations in the short to medium term. Yang Jian received his BA and first MA from Chinese universities and did his second MA and PhD in International Relations at the Australian National University (ANU). His primary research areas are foreign policy, US-China relations, international relations of the Asia-Pacific, environmental politics, and Chinese politics. He is the author of Congress and US China Policy (2000).

Listen to the speaker being interviewed by Dr van der Geest (mp3)