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"GFJ Commentary"
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"GFJ Commentary" presents views of members and friends of GFJ on the relations of Japan with the rest of the world and other related international affairs. The view expressed herein is the author's own and should not be attributed to GFJ.
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The presence of U.S. and Russia lent weight to G20
By KAWAKAMI Takashi
Professor of Takushoku University
G20 Summit held in Turkey on November 15th right after the Paris terror attacks, which had occurred on November 13th, utterly changed in its state compared to what it used to be. Although G20 is supposed to be a stage to discuss economic issues, the problems of Syrian and terrorism were highly focused on this time.
Top-level meeting between President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin was paid attention globally than was to G20 summit itself. It is said that the atmosphere of their one hour and half minutes-long discussion was rather relaxing than the one held this September even though both of them had a talk with absolute sincerity. Since the terrorism threat by ISIS has been more pressing, they have shared a dead-on mutual interest in which ISIS, the common enemy between U.S. and Russia. The terrorism in Paris as well as in Lebanon plus shooting down of a Russian civil airplane produced numerous casualties. It is obvious that these tragedies were subjected to reprisal by ISIS against the military operation in Syria. Now that the terrorist attack by ISIS can be said to have entered the state of global expansion. United States can no longer be comforted any more. President Obama has started to work on the issue at last.
The talk at the highest level between U.S. and Russia reached an agreement for rushing into a political settlement, and they formed a conclusion that the United Nations should arrange an accommodation. Holding an election campaign within one year and half suggested by Russia at Syria peace talks in Vienna has become more likely. German Chancellor Merkel as well as the leader of European Union (EU) expressed their view of a refugee policy that it should not be changed. Some countries sealed their borders due to the concern of surging refugees. The principle of EU, "EU is one land without borders," was shaken profoundly. EU itself could be collapsed being confronted with the terrorism if the closure of the national borders should be accelerated. Chancellor Merkel and EU representative feared uneasy about it, and they might have given a warning. However, the ideal is now an open question facing the current threats.
Although the solution to the Syrian civil war was receded due to the worsened relations between U.S. and Russia, they conversely began to look for the ways of political solution by the series of terrorist attacks in Paris. This is a complete change precisely because Obama and Putin could carry out, both of whom are cold and pragmatist. After all, the relations between U.S. and Russia hold the key to Syria issues.
(This is the English translation of an article written by Dr. KAWAKAMI Takashi, Professor of Takushoku University, which originally appeared on the e-Forum "Giron-Hyakushutsu" of GFJ on December 1, 2015, and was posted on "GFJ Commentary" on December 16, 2015.)
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For more views and opinions in the backnumber of "GFJ Commentary," the latest of which are as follows, please refer to:
http://www.gfj.jp/e/e-letter/back_number.html
No.63 Prime Minister ABE Should Retract His Pledge to Mark "A Departure from the Post-war Regime"
by TANIMOTO Taku, Corporate Staff
(31 October 2015)
No.62 Greece and Korea - Analogy of the two peninsulas
by KURANISHI Masako, Political Scientist
(31 August 2015)
No.61 Does the USA Assume Japan and China Agree to Reshelf the Senkaku Issue?
by TSUMORI Shigeru, Professor Emeritus, Toyo Eiwa University
(29 June 2015)
No.60 Inherent Difficulties of Standing in "Middle of the Road"
by OGATA Rintaro, Member of the House of Representatives
(27 April 2015)
No.59 Japan as the Key Actor to Strengthen US-Indian Partnership
by TAKAMINE Koushu, Research Fellow, Okazaki Institute
(17 February 2015)
"GFJ Updates"
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"GFJ Updates" introduces to you the latest events, announcements and/or publications of GFJ.
Event
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"Japan-East Asia Dialogue" on "A New Horizon of Regional Cooperation in East Asia" Held
The Global Forum of Japan (GFJ), under the co-sponsorship of East Asian Institute of National University of Singapore (EAI), International Relations Department of University of Indonesia, and the Japan Forum on International Relations (JFIR), organized the "Japan-East Asia Dialogue" on "A New Horizon of Regional Cooperation in East Asia: Overcoming the Age of Complex Risks" in Tokyo on December 10, 2015.
The "Dialogue" was attended by 86 participants including such eminent experts on the theme as ITO Go, Academic Governor of the GFJ, and SOEYA Yoshihide, Professor of Keio Univ., from the Japanese side and Hikmahanto JUWANA, Professor of Univ. of Indonesia, and TRAN Quang Minh, Director General of Institute of Northeast Asia Studies of Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, from the East Asian side.
For the Conference Paper distributed at the "Dialogue," please refer to;
http://www.gfj.jp/j/dialogue/20151210_cp.pdf
Publication
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Academic Governor of GFJ Published a Report on a Study Tour to Laos and Thailand
Prof. Dr. SHIMADA Haruo, Academic Governor of the GFJ / President of Chiba University of Commerce, conducted a study tour to Laos and Thailand from November 19 to 24, 2015.
You are invited to read the full text of his Report on the tour by clicking the link below:
http://www.gfj.jp/e/pdf/151119.pdf
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