Nakasone Peace Institute Honors Australian Scholar's Outstanding Research and Contributions

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On November 29, the Nakasone Peace Institute celebrated Shiro Patrick Armstrong, recipient of the 20th Nakasone Yasuhiro Award of Excellence. In a ceremony at a hotel in Tokyo, it recognized Dr Armstrong and other young researchers who have made significant international contributions in a variety of fields including politics, economics, and culture. Dr Armstrong is a professor and director of the Australia-Japan Research Center at Australian National University.

"I would like to continue working hard for the Japan-Australia relationship and peace, which I have devoted my career to so far," Dr Armstrong said at the ceremony. He was honored for his outstanding achievements as a leading economist in the Asia-Pacific region. Armstrong's focus as a bridge between Japan and Australia was specifically mentioned in his selection.

*Dr Armstrong delivers a lecture after receiving the Nakasone Excellence Award. (©JAPAN Forward)*

Nakasone Award Lecture

The new Nakasone Excellence laureate lectured the audience on the significance of Japan and Australia's position in the Indo-Pacific and the world. Among his noteworthy comments, he observed:

"Japan and Australia are both important middle powers. Both our countries rely on our alliance with the United States for security, and China is our largest trading partner. Geopolitical and economic fissures are spreading worldwide, but the events triggering them are happening in Japan's and Australia's backyards."

Continuing, he acknowledged: "There is a resurgence of geopolitics and the acceleration of climate change. There are also rising risks of protectionism. These intersect globally, putting the world economy on a path that could lead to disaster.

"What is needed is for the international society to act with a clear sense of purpose, to correct course, and to deepen policy discussions to safeguard the multilateral economic order. This is essential for Asia's prosperity."

A Strategy Ensuring Economic Security

Dr Armstrong noted: "Japan and Australia have an important role to play, working with our partners in Southeast Asia. It is a role that will make the region and the world a better place. Now is the time for practical, well-grounded thinking and action.

This kind of behavior is exactly what I think of when I recall [former Prime Minister] Nakasone. Japan and Australia must formulate a new strategy for the region and ensure its economic security."

In a further reflection, Dr Armstrong commented on the relationship between peace and prosperity. "A priority for Japan and Australia is to pursue strategies that balance prosperity and security," he said.

"Prosperity and security are not mutually exclusive. There is no need to sacrifice economic efficiency for the sake of national security. Japan and Australia's economic and security policies are premised on an open market and a rules-based system."

Dr Armstrong lamented, "Even the United States is beginning to abandon the rules. Instead, Tokyo and Canberra need to adopt a proactive strategy to uphold and modernize the rules-based economic system." Then he urged, "To achieve this, we need to strengthen cooperation among middle powers globally."

*Nakasone Award winners from the right: Shiro Patrick Armstrong, winner of the Excellence Award, Tamaki Endo, Yusuke Takagi, and Madoka Fukuda, winners of the Encouragement Award. (©JAPAN Forward)*

Winners of the Nakasone Encouragement Award

Also in the November 29 ceremony, the Nakasone Encouragement Award was presented to three people: Waseda University Professor Tamaki Endo, PhD, Associate Professor Yusuke Takagi, JD, of the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies, and Professor Madoka Fukuda, PhD, of Hosei University. Dr Endo was recognized for her active participation in policy dialogue as a researcher specializing in Southeast Asia.

Professor Takagi also specializes in Southeast Asia. He shared his research findings from both a domestic and international perspective. Dr Fukuda, meanwhile, is a specialist in China-Taiwan relations. She enthusiastically shared her findings, which are fundamental to understanding cross-strait relations.