The National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS) organized a three-day program of training in security and foreign policy issues in the Indo-Pacific region. The program, provided for the National Security College (NSC) of Australian National University (ANU), ran from November 11 to 13, 2019. Twenty-four Australian government officials and four NSC faculty and staff members participated in the program, offered by GRIPS for the third time since the two organizations signed a memorandum of understanding in 2017.

?

?

The program, featuring lectures, discussion sessions, and study trips, brought the Australian participants together with Japanese security and foreign policy specialists.

?

On the first day, GRIPS President Akihiko Tanaka and NSC Head Prof. Rory Medcalf set the tone for the program with their discussion of the topic, “Free and Open Indo-Pacific.” Other lectures and discussion sessions featured: Mr. Nobukatsu Kanehara, Former Deputy Secretary-General, National Security Secretariat of Japan; Mr. Yoichi Kato, Senior Research Fellow, Asia Pacific Initiative; Vice Admiral (ret.) Yoji Koda, Former Commander in Chief, Japan Self-Defense Fleet; GRIPS Vice President Narushige Michishita; GRIPS Professor Nobutomo Osanai,; Mr. Shigeaki Tanaka, Director-General for Policy Planning and Coordination, Japan Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry; Mr. Toshiya Tsugami, Japan Institute of International Affairs; Waseda University Professor Chikako Kawakatsu Ueki; and GRIPS Visiting Scholar Dr. Hideaki Watanabe.

?

The participants also visited Fujitsu Laboratories, where they were briefed intensively about various applications of big data and AI, including national defense.

?

On the last day of the program, in a wrap-up session with Prof. Michishita, the participants asked follow-up questions, reviewed conference takeaways, and discussed future approaches to Australia–Japan cooperation.