[ROK-Japan-Australia Trilateral Conference] “ROK-Japan-Australia Cooperation in Trump 2.0” (January 18, 2025)
As President-elect Donald Trump returned to the White House on January 20, 2025, East Asian allies are bracing for a new wave of diplomatic challenges, driven by the anticipated acceleration of “Trumpism” and its focus on “America First.” This phenomenon, encompassing both Trump’s distinctive leadership style and a broader systеmic shift in U.S. foreign policy, raises critical questions. Does it signal a long-term decline in U.S. hegemony? How will it affect the regional order in the Indo-Pacific? Can allies still count on the opportunities and prosperity traditionally associated with their partnership with the United States? If Trump's vision diverges from their aspirations, is a course correction by the U.S. feasible? And, if solidarity among allies is achievable, what should be their shared objectives?
To address these pressing issues and their implications for key U.S. allies, the East Asia Institute (EAI) convened a trilateral conference featuring leading experts in security and economics from Korea, Japan, and Australia. The speakers identified critical challenges and developed strategies for fostering trilateral cooperation, equipping allies to navigate the shifting dynamics of U.S. policy and strengthen their partnership to meet shared goals.
■ Overview
• Date & Time: Saturday, January 18, 2025 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM
• Location: GF Conference Hall, East Asia Institute (1 Sajik-ro 7-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul)
• Language: English
■ Program Agenda
Opening Ceremony | 09:30 - 10:10
Welcoming Remarks: Yul SOHN (President, EAI; Professor, Yonsei University)
Congratulatory Remarks: Euihae Cecilia CHUNG (Special Representative for Indo-Pacific, ROK Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
H.E. Koichi MIZUSHIMA (Japanese Ambassador to ROK)
H.E. Jeff ROBINSON (Australian Ambassador to ROK)
Keynote Address: Young Sun HA (Chairman, EAI; Professor Emeritus, Seoul National University)
Session 1. Security | 10:10 - 11:10
Moderator: Sook Jong LEE (Senior Fellow, EAI; Distinguished Professor, Sungkyunkwan University)
Presentations: ROK | Chaesung CHUN (Chair, EAI National Security Research Center; Professor, Seoul National University)
Japan | Ken JIMBO (President, Asia Pacific Initiative; Professor, Keio University)
Australia | Thomas WILKINS (Professor, University of Sydney)
Session 2. Trade & Technology| 11:20 - 12:30
Moderator: Yul SOHN (President, EAI; Professor, Yonsei University)
Presentations: ROK | Siwook LEE (President, Korea Institute for International Economic Policy)
Japan | Fukunari KIMURA (President, The Institute for Developing Economies, JETRO)
Australia | Melissa CONLEY TYLER (Honorary Fellow, Asia Institute at The University of Melbourne)