Asia Insight

We were excited to host NBR’s president Richard J. Ellings this week to discuss some of the upcoming challenges and opportunities the United States faces in the Indo-Pacific region. In addition to his role at NBR, he is an Affiliate Professor in the Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies at the University of Washington.

In this wide-ranging discussion, Dr. Ellings forecasts some of the critical issues U.S. policymakers and businesses will likely have to manage in the Indo-Pacific: China’s Belt and Road Initiative, growing China-Russia cooperation, and the trigger points in the South China Sea. He also provides a number of recommendations to policymakers, including a replacement for the TPP, engagement through regional alliances and institutions, and what he considers the best option for dealing with North Korea.

Please join us for future discussions and let us know what you think of the podcast on Twitter (@NBRNews) or via email at [email protected]

In this episode, we interview ADM Jonathan Greenert about maritime strategy in the Indo-Pacific.

ADM Greenert holds the John M. Shalikashvili Chair in National Security Studies at NBR. He is a career naval officer, having served for 40 years in the U.S. Navy, culminating in his appointment as the 30th Chief of Naval Operations from 2011 to 2015. He is a recipient of various personal and campaign awards, including the Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, and the Vice Admiral Stockdale Award for inspirational leadership.

His recent publication, Tenets of a Regional Defense Strategy: Considerations for the Indo-Pacific, is available for free download from the NBR website.

The Indo-Pacific at present is a hotspot of political turmoil and territorial disputes. Discovering solutions for these issues requires critical strategic planning and innovation. Fresh from hosting a panel event of international Navy Chiefs, ADM Greenert provides valuable insights to address the dynamic challenges in the maritime commons. In this wide-ranging conversation, he discusses the diverse complexities of the Indo-Pacific and explores possible avenues for U.S. policy.

We hope you enjoy this episode of Asia Insight!  

In this episode, we interview Jonathan Elkind (Columbia University, former Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Energy) and Clara Gillispie (NBR) about U.S. energy policy in Asia. Elkind and Gillispie discuss the role of energy in the “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” strategy, how countries in the region are responding, what U.S.-China trade tensions have to do with energy, and what they’d like to see from the Trump administration’s policies in the future.

2:30 How did your interest in energy policy begin?

4:50 What is the U.S. energy policy towards Asia?

8:49 Can you separate energy policy from broader policy toward Asia?

10:15 How do Japan and South Korea fit into our energy policy?

12:30 What are the primary concerns from other countries in the region? How have they been reacting to U.S. policy?

15:33 What is the future of U.S.-Russia relations on energy?

18:40 What are the prospects for a Russia-Japan energy pipeline?

20:12 How are U.S.-China tensions on trade affecting energy policy?

• References the report, “A Natural Gas Giant Awakens: China’s Quest for Blue Skies Shapes Global Markets”

27:55 How is the energy industry handling uncertainty in U.S. policy?

35:50 What have you seen in the Trump administration’s approach to investing in emerging energy technology?

40:20 What do you wish the administration would consider as it formulates energy policy?

43:58 What is the most promising energy source for the future and why?

45:00 What book on energy would you recommend to an Asia generalist?

• Richard Rhodes, Energy: A Human History

In this episode, we interview Dr. Nicholas Eberstadt about the historic Singapore Summit on June 12 between President Donald Trump and Chairman Kim Jong-un. Dr. Eberstadt discusses his key takeaways from the summit, what the summit means for U.S. allies and other stakeholders in the region, and what he’d like to see from the Trump administration moving forward.

This episode presents a discussion of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), described by our guest as Xi Jinping’s “organizing foreign policy concept.” That guest is Nadège Rolland, Senior Fellow for Political and Security Affairs at NBR. Nadège walks us through the significance of BRI, what it means for the region, and how U.S. officials and businesses should respond to the initiative.

Please join us for future discussions and let us know what you think of the podcast on Twitter (@nbrnews) or via email at [email protected].

Listen as Strategic Asia editors Ashley Tellis (Carnegie Endowment for International Peace) and Michael Wills (NBR) discuss the newest volume in the series, Strategic Asia 2017–18: Power, Ideas, and Military Strategy in the Asia-Pacific.

NBR's President Richard J. Ellings sat down with William "Bill" McCahill on October 25, 2017, to discuss the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and its implications for the United States and its allies. McCahill is a Senior Resident Fellow at NBR.