China's Perception of the Situation in Afghanistan

Ichiro Inoue is a professor at the School of Policy Studies, Kwansei Gakuin University, Japan. His research focus is on Chinese foreign policy: China’s big power diplomacy, foreign policy making mechanism, crisis behavior, US-China-Japan relations. Prior to assuming his current position, he had worked as a Japanese foreign service officer at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well as at the Japanese Embassy in Beijing. Mr. Inoue received MALD (International Relations) from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University and a B.A. from Kwansei Gakuin University. He had served as a visiting scholar at the School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University (2019-2020). His recent publications include “Seikenkoutai niokeru Chuugougaikou no Henka to Keizokusei” (Change and Continuity in Chinese Foreign Policy in the case of Leadership Transition), International Relations, No.177, 2014, Japan Association of International Relations, “Gurobalka Jidai no Chuugoku Gaukoubu” (The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the era of Globalization), Asian Studies No.4, Volume 64, 2018, Japan Association of Asian Studies.

He received his DPhil in 1988 from Sussex University, and later spent several years as Visiting Scholar at the Consulate-General of Japan in Hong Kong, the Japanese Embassy in Beijing, Harvard University, Peking University, and at the Mercator Institute for China Studies. Before joining The University of Tokyo, he taught at J. F. Oberlin University and Rikkyo University. He served as President of the Japan Association for Asian Studies, and as the Secretary General of the New Japan-China Friendship 21st Century Committee. He currently serves as Senior Adjunct Fellow of the Japan Institute of International Affairs, Distinguished Research Fellow of the Japan Forum on International Relations and Director of JICA Ogata Sadako Research Institute for Peace and Development. His publications include The Politics of Wage Policy in Post-Revolutionary China, (Macmillan, 1992), and Japan-China Relations in the Modern Era, (co-authored, Routledge, 2017).

Graduated from the National Defense Academy of Japan in 1985 and completed his Master’s program (area studies) at the University of Tsukuba in 1998. Joined the Maritime Self‐Defense Forces in 1985 and became a helicopter pilot. Stationed in China between 2003 and 2006 as a naval attaché. Became chief of the intelligence section, MSDF Maritime Staff Office, Ministry of Defense, in 2006 and commanding officer of the 21st Flight Squadron, MSDF, in 2009. Worked at IHS Jane’s from 2011 as an analyst and business development manager and joined The Tokyo Foundation for Policy Research in 2013, and became the Director of Policy Research in 2016 before assuming his present position in June 2017. His works include Chugoku no gunji senryaku (China’s Military Strategy), Toyo Keizai Inc., co-author of Magari kado ni tatsu chugoku (China at a Turning Point), NTT Publishing, Beichu shin reisen no makuake (After Sharp Power), Toyo Keizai Inc., and Yoku wakaru gendai chugoku seiji (Contemporary Chinese Politics), Minervashobo.