Speaker:

Prof Akio Takahara
Distinguished Visiting Professor, Tokyo Woman’s Christian University; and
Emeritus Professor, The University of Tokyo

Date & Time:

Wednesday, 24 September 2025
3:30 pm – 5:00 pm (Singapore Time)

Venue:

EAI Conference Room
NUS Bukit Timah Campus, Tower Block #06-01,
469A Bukit Timah Road, Singapore 259770

Registration is required:

Please register at this link: https://nus-sg.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_4fKv8XnhSTmcWCuQIACtPA

Synopsis:

As early as May 2017, President Xi Jinping stated in an internal speech that a true world power is one that is both a land power and a sea power, and that a strategic decision has been made to strive to become a power of such kind. The pursuit of this ambition has fuelled intense competition with the United States, even as Chinese leaders repeatedly assert that they do not seek to challenge America’s leading position in the world order. In order to win the strategic competition with the United States, China has four tactical pillars in its diplomacy: first, paradoxically, stabilise relations with the United States in the short run; second, support Russia; third, develop relations with Europe and Japan; and fourth, gain more support from the Global South. However, this external policy framework is limited by internal contradictions, persistent big country consciousness and the absence of compelling new values and norms that will support a new world order. While Pax Americana is crumbling, Pax Sinica is still a dream.