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19Aug2025

Leveraging Impact Finance and Empowering Communities to Improve Food Security and Promote Sustainable Blue Economies

25Jul2025

Forging a Sustainable Future through Africa–Japan Collaboration

11Jul2025

Taiwan’s Community-Driven Response to Information Threats

03Jul2025

A Decade of Partnership Japan's Capacity Building initiatives for UN Peace Operations

Essays and Commentary

IINA: GCC States Condemn Israeli Strikes on Iran: Advancing Regional Peace and Stability through International Law

On June 13, 2025, Israel launched a large-scale preemptive strike targeting Iran’s nuclear facilities, conventional military assets, senior commanders, and nuclear scientists. This marked the third direct Israeli attack on Iranian territory, following similar operations in April and October 2024. In retaliation, Iran fired missiles and drones into Israel the same day, triggering a 12-day military confrontation.

August 19, 2025

Essays and Commentary

IINA: Bridging Sanctions Gaps: The Enforcement Coordination Cell (ECC) in Yokosuka and Minilateral Maritime Cooperation

Institutionalized multilateral security frameworks in the Indo-Pacific remain structurally underdeveloped, in contrast to Europe, where a multilayered security architecture exists combining NATO’s collective defense commitments with the OSCE’s role in conflict prevention, crisis management and confidence-building measures. Instead, regional security architecture has historically relied on a hub-and-spoke system centered around the bilateral alliance with the United States. While this bilateral architecture remains vital, it lacks the institutional depth to coordinate multilateral responses to evolving regional threats.

Essays and Commentary

IINA: Possibilities and Limitations of the "One Theater (OCEAN)" Concept —Based on the Salami Slice Tactics in the Military Exercise "Straits Thunderbolt-2025A"

On April 1 and 2, the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) conducted a large-scale military exercise, "Strait Thunderbolt-2025A," in the around Taiwan, involving PLA, PLA Navy (PLAN), PLA Air Force (PLAAF) , and PLA Rocket Force (PLARF) as well as the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG). In response, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense announced that it had identified a total of approximately 100 military aircraft, more than 20 naval vessels, and over 10 CCG's ships over the two days.

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Programs

General Affairs and Networking Program (Japan-U.S. and Security Studies Unit)

Japan-U.S. and Security Studies Unit
General Affairs and Networking Program

Contributing to the peace and stability of the international community while strengthening Japan's security capabilities

National Security and Japan-U.S. Program (Japan-U.S. and Security Studies Unit）

Japan-U.S. and Security Studies Unit
National Security and Japan-U.S. Program

Contributing to the creation of peace and a new international order in the face of drastic shifts in the security environment by cooperating with the United States, friends, and partners

Strategy and Deterrence Program (Japan-U.S. and Security Studies Unit）

Japan-U.S. and Security Studies Unit
Strategy and Deterrence Program

Assessing global shifts to contribute to the creation of a more advantageous security environment

Strategic Dialogue and Exchange Program (Asia and Middle East Unit)

Asia and Middle East Unit
Strategic Dialogue and Exchange Program

Building a foundation of trust between Japan, Asia, and the Middle East to fortify solidarity and engender peaceful coexistence

Peacebuilding Program (Asia and Middle East Unit)

Asia and Middle East Unit
Peacebuilding Program

Pursuing resolutions to lingering conflicts and the establishment of peace

Social Innovation Program (Asia and Middle East Unit)

Asia and Middle East Unit
Social Innovation Program

Envisioning a society where women in Asia can realize their full potential

Sasakawa Japan-China Friendship Program (Asia and Middle East Unit)

Asia and Middle East Unit
Sasakawa Japan-China Friendship Program

Working toward a future of lasting peace and mutual understanding

Division of Ocean Vision and Action (Ocean Policy Research Institute)

Ocean Policy Research Institute
Division of Ocean Vision and Action

Pioneers for a sustainable ocean, developing an innovative ocean governance

Division of Island Nations (Ocean Policy Research Institute)

Ocean Policy Research Institute
Division of Island Nations

Building mutual trust between Japan and Pacific island nations and promoting peace and prosperity in the region through targeted research and localized projects

Sasakawa Scholarship Program (Scholarship Unit)

Scholarship Unit
Sasakawa Scholarship Program

Providing study abroad scholarships for future leaders in Japan

Essays and Commentary

IINA: GCC States Condemn Israeli Strikes on Iran: Advancing Regional Peace and Stability through International Law

By Akira Mizuguchi, Emeritus Professor, Keiai University Refugee Examination Counselor, The Ministry of Justice

On June 13, 2025, Israel launched a large-scale preemptive strike targeting Iran’s nuclear facilities, conventional military assets, senior commanders, and nuclear scientists. This marked the third direct Israeli attack on Iranian territory, following similar operations in April and October 2024. In retaliation, Iran fired missiles and drones into Israel the same day, triggering a 12-day military confrontation.

IINA: Bridging Sanctions Gaps: The Enforcement Coordination Cell (ECC) in Yokosuka and Minilateral Maritime Cooperation

Institutionalized multilateral security frameworks in the Indo-Pacific remain structurally underdeveloped, in contrast to Europe, where a multilayered security architecture exists combining NATO’s collective defense commitments with the OSCE’s role in conflict prevention, crisis management and confidence-building measures. Instead, regional security architecture has historically relied on a hub-and-spoke system centered around the bilateral alliance with the United States. While this bilateral architecture remains vital, it lacks the institutional depth to coordinate multilateral responses to evolving regional threats.

By Takuma Matsu, Research Fellow The Sasakawa Peace Foundation

IINA: Possibilities and Limitations of the "One Theater (OCEAN)" Concept —Based on the Salami Slice Tactics in the Military Exercise "Straits Thunderbolt-2025A"

On April 1 and 2, the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) conducted a large-scale military exercise, "Strait Thunderbolt-2025A," in the around Taiwan, involving PLA, PLA Navy (PLAN), PLA Air Force (PLAAF) , and PLA Rocket Force (PLARF) as well as the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG). In response, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense announced that it had identified a total of approximately 100 military aircraft, more than 20 naval vessels, and over 10 CCG's ships over the two days.

By Yasuhiro Kawakami, Director and Senior Research Fellow, Security Studies Program, The Sasakawa Peace Foundation

IINA: Lee Jae-myung’s Pragmatic Diplomacy: Between Alliance and Autonomy

South Korea’s new Lee Jae-myung administration is betting on “pragmatic diplomacy” to navigate the storm of a volatile geopolitical landscape, at a time when the core tenets of its foreign policy—pursuing both a strong alliance with the U.S. and a close economic partnership with China—are under growing strain. In his inaugural address at the National Assembly on June 4, President Lee declared that “through pragmatic, national-interest-centered diplomacy, we [South Korea] will turn the crisis of global economic and security shifts into opportunities to maximize national interest.”

By Shinae Lee, Research Fellow The Sasakawa Peace Foundation

August 1, 2025

Explore Latest Essays and Commentary

Videos

Strategic Dialogue and Exchange Program

The Role of Mediation Diplomacy and Media in the Middle East

On Tuesday, June 24, 2025, the Sasakawa Peace Foundation (SPF)’s Asia and Middle East Unit, Group 1 (Strategic Dialogue and Exchange Program) hosted a public seminar, welcoming Dr. Ezzeddine Abdulmoula - Research Manager, and Mr. Haoues Taguia - Head of Gulf and International Research, from the Al Jazeera Centre for Studies.

July 11, 2025

The Role of Mediation Diplomacy and Media in the Middle East

【Podcast Audio】Changing International Order and American Foreign Policy

In this episode, Hal Brands, the Henry A. Kissinger Distinguished Professor of Global Affairs at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), and Tsuneo Watanabe, a Senior Fellow at the Sasakawa Peace Foundation, discussed the evolving international order and American foreign policy.

July 4, 2025