The US-Asia Institute invites you to an upcoming webinar entitled "Subnational Diplomacy: Examples from China and Japan" to be held via Zoom on Tuesday, June 11th at 1:00 PM EDT. While national-level diplomatic activities often make the headlines, examples of state- and local-level engagement tend to be under-discussed. Join us as we welcome experts and practitioners to discuss the impact of subnational diplomacy on domestic and foreign policy of China and Japan.

[Northeast Asia in Focus] Subnational Diplomacy: Examples from China and Japan

Tuesday, June 11, 2024 | 1-2pm EDT | Held via Zoom

Speakers

Kyle A. Jaros is associate professor of global affairs in the Keough School of Global Affairs at the University of Notre Dame. He is a faculty fellow of the Keough School’s Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies and the Pulte Institute for Global Development. Jaros’s research explores the politics of urban and regional development, intergovernmental relations, and subnational foreign engagement with a focus on China. Jaros’s research on China’s subnational development and central-local relations has appeared in leading China studies and social science journals such as The China Journal, The China Quarterly, Modern China, Politics & Society, and Studies in Comparative International Development. Jaros is currently at work on a second book project and related articles (with Sara Newland) examining subnational US-China relations during a period of rising tensions. Jaros earned a PhD and MA in political science from the Department of Government at Harvard University, and an AB in public and international affairs and a certificate in Chinese language and culture from Princeton University. He also holds a graduate certificate in Chinese studies from the Hopkins-Nanjing Center for Chinese and American Studies.

Kazuyuki “Kaz” Nakazato is the Director of the Okinawa Prefectural Government (OPG) Washington D.C. Office. The office plays a key role in gathering information and reaching out to relevant officials, organizations and individuals in the U.S.; providing them with accurate information and facilitating discussion about Okinawa, a host to the majority of U.S. military presence in Japan, to resolve various issues the prefecture faces. It also promotes the history, culture and industries of the prefecture that was an independent kingdom until the late 19th century. Mr. Nakazato joined OPG in 1996 and has been in D.C. since April 2021. Before this assignment, he was responsible for promoting the prefecture in the fields of commerce and industry, as well as tourism. He also served as head of OPG’s Shanghai office from 2007 to 2010 and has extensive international experience. Mr. Nakazato earned his B.A. in international politics and economy from Aoyama Gakuin University, and his M.A. in public policy from the University of Southern California.

Katsuya Tamaki, Deputy Director of the OPG DC Office, has been in the position since April 2021. He joined the OPG in 1999, and has experiences in the fields of commerce, tourism, etc. He headed the OPG’s representative office in Singapore from 2015 to 2018 and greatly contributed to the launch of a direct flight service between Singapore and Okinawa. His past overseas assignments include Oman, where he worked at the Embassy of Japan as a press and cultural attaché. He earned his B.A. in law from Waseda University, Tokyo.

Moderator

See-Won Byun is Assistant Professor at San Francisco State University. Her research and teaching focus on the politics of China, international relations of East Asia, and international relations theory.  Her research examines China’s political economy and global integration, interdependence and security in Asia, and national identity politics in Asian relations.  Before joining SF State, she was a Visiting Assistant Professor of Politics at Bates College.  She received a Ph.D. in political science and M.A. in international affairs from The George Washington University, M.A. in international studies from Yonsei University and B.A. in economics from Brown University.