On January 20, Mr. Donald Trump will take the oath of office as America’s new President. People all over the world pay a great deal of attention to Mr. Trump’s statecraft. Announced in 2010, the Obama administration’s “rebalance” towards Asia has provoked sometimes-heated debate and drawn mixed reactions in Asia regarding U.S. motives and intentions in the region. How will the Trump administration manage its policy towards Asia?

What is the future of the “rebalance” policy in the Asia-Pacific region?

In November 2016, The Asia Foundation published policy recommendations　on U.S. foreign policy toward Asia (http://asiafoundation.org/what-we-do/asian-views-americas-role/).

The Foundation’s “Asian Views on America’s Role in Asia” report suggests the importance of continuity of American engagement in Asia, and emphasizes Asian views from Northeast, Southeast and South Asian experts, along with an American response. Having this opportunity, the Sasakawa Peace Foundation welcomed Prof. Yoshihide Soeya of Keio University as a commentator for the panel to discuss the future of America’s engagement in Asia including Japan views. Prof. Fumiaki Kubo of the University of Tokyo presided at a panel as a moderator to facilitate active discussion.