DIPLOMACY
Vol.65, Jan. / Feb. 2021
Contents of Features

70“Cleaning up” after Brexit: Conclusion of the FTA negotiations between UK and EU and its impact
The FTA agreement was reached at the very end of the year, just before the deadline for negotiations. How did thenegotiations settle as a result of the UK insisting on sovereignty and the EU's refusing special treatment?
Daisuke Ikemoto (Meiji Gakuin University)76

Germany has begun to move towards the post-Merkel era

82

Changes in the order of the Nile river region due to the huge dam built by Ethiopia

88

SDGs strategy in the era of COVID-19: A grand vision to overcome the “crisis of sustainability” is needed
If we compare COVID-19 to each of the SDGs, it will become a "compass in a time of crisis" and a "mindset" for the worldthat lives with COVID-19.
Masaki Inaba (Japan Civil Society Network on SDGs)

94

Special interview - Narrating seven years and eight months of Abe diplomacy (Part II): Strategic
thinking within the “Free and Open Indo-Pacific”

With a weak base of power, can the next CDU party leader become a candidate for the Chancellor of Germany? With thedecline of the AfD and the rise of the Greens, what will be the direction of German politics?
Yuichi Morii (University of Tokyo)
A huge dam was built by Ethiopia on the upper stream of the Nile river. The economic development of downstream countries
is shaking the regional "hegemony" of Egypt, which had previously dominated the development of the Nile river region.
Kohei Nishidate (Researcher on Middle East issues)

Shinzo Abe (Former Prime Minister)

FOCUS: Overview on how to overcome the COVID-19 crisis
100 New solidarity over international health: Universal Health Coverage and WHO reform

Given the global spread of COVID-19, how to overcome the vulnerability of health and medical systems in developing
countries is an issue of utmost importance. This article looks at health diplomacy that is based on universal health coverage.
Satoshi Ezoe (Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

106 Development, supply, and distribution system of the COVID-19 vaccine is called into question

The vaccine for COVID-19 was approved at an exceptionally fast pace. However, difficulties still remain such as the disparity
in the availability of vaccines between developed and developing countries .
Kayo Takuma (Tokyo Metropolitan University)

112 World Economy: Risks of slow growth will prevail even after vaccination spreads

The recovery of the global economy will likely be a difficult process. Vaccine development may progress, but vaccination
rates may not. Does the damaged face-to-face service industry have the strength to recover?
Sayuri Ito (NLI Research Institute)

TREND2021
118 Xi Jinping administration’s road towards “inward looking global power” (Part II): “Fifth plenary
session of the 19th Central Committee” will solidify existing policies
Takashi Suzuki (Aichi Prefectural University)

122 World’s first digital currency introduction strategy by Cambodia
Daiju Aiba (JICA Ogata Research Institute)

129 Why Mexico’s drug war is prolonging: The shock of the arrest of former Defense Minister
Kaori Baba (Hokkaido University)

Feature:Year 2021 - Will we see lightin the era of turmoil?
6

Cover Story Interview Japanese diplomacy in 2021: Shouldering international rule-making that
focuses on the post-COVID-19 era
Toshimitsu Motegi (Minister for Foreign Affairs)×Akihiko Tanaka (President of GRIPS)

14

Special interview: What is required to suppress COVID-19: Constant risk assessment, vaccination, and new international cooperation
Shigeru Omi (Government expert panel on the COVID-19 pandemic)

20

Roundtable: How to face invisible threats – discussions on international politics over norms,technology, and institutions

Concerns about Chinese "superiority" are growing in the South China Sea, information and communication space, and thenew COVID-19 vaccines. What is required is a sober analysis of the real picture of the "threat," and the revival andreconstruction of liberal society itself.
Mie Oba (Kanagawa University), Kenji Kohno (NHK), Kazuto Suzuki (University of Tokyo), and Yuichi Hosoya (KeioUniversity – chair)

30

Urgent contribution: Storming of the U.S. Capitol revealed the widespread divisions in U.S. society
The storming of the U.S. Capitol has steered American politics toward "Trump removal" and appears to be restoring
democracy. However, the incident has revealed numerous divisions within the American society.
Masato Watanabe (Hokkaido University)

38

President Biden’s Diplomatic Strategy and the Future of the International Liberal Order

40

Diversity as the bumper sticker: How capable is the new Biden administration?

47

Climate Change as foreign policy: An indispensable factor for Japan-U.S. alliance under theBiden administration

What will change under the Biden administration and what will continue? This article argues that the cornerstones of Asia
focus and competition among major powers will continue, while cooperation with allies will become clearer.
John J. Hamre (President and CEO, CSIS)In the area of foreign affairs and national security, Joe Biden has reappointed many cabinet members from the Obamaadministration to form a solid lineup. On the other hand, he has avoided a confrontation with the left while controlling theirmomentum.
Mikio Sugeno (Nikkei)

Climate change is one of the most important policies for the Biden administration. How far will Japan go to address climatechange, which goes beyond environmental issues and directly affects the rules of the global economy ?
Pete Ogden (UN Foundation)

52“Current location” of Japan’s China policy: Analyzing Japan-China relations from the released
Tiananmen Square incident related documents
Japan took a soft approach to China in the wake of the Tiananmen Square Incident because of four factors.
However, considering present CCP’s governance, Japan’s strategy did not work effectively.
Yusuke Anami (Tohoku University)

58

Australia: Anguish over worsening relations with China: Between maintaining sovereignty and economic interests
Australia-China relationship is deteriorating. Australia is not backing down from China's hardline measures including various
import restrictions. However, if the situation drags on, the economic damage will be substantial. Australia is trying to find away to survive by cooperating with countries in the Indo-Pacific regions.
Tomohiko Satake (NIDS)

64

Can U.S. go back to the Iran nuclear agreement?

New U.S. President Joe Biden aims to return to the Iran nuclear agreement, but that may not be a high priority policy issue.
What will happen to the balance of power, which has changed dramatically under the Trump administration?
Koichiro Tanaka (Keio University)