Recent Developments in China's Naval Modernization and Foreign Policy Activism

Yoji Koda and Robert Ross will speak on China's naval modernization and foreign policy at Harvard University.

Since the early 1980s, China's peaceful-rise diplomacy has contributed to Chinese cooperative relations with nearly every country in East Asia, despite widespread underlying apprehension over China's rise. During this same period, the United States cooperated with China's rise, and it also contributed to regional stability. But recently China seems to have abandoned its peaceful-rise strategy. Chinese domestic economic and political instability and widespread nationalism has elicited a nationalist foreign policy. In response, the United States expanded its strategic presence in South Korea and developed a stronger political presence in Indochina. These trends suggest a prolonged period of heightened distrust and reduced cooperation.

Yoji Koda is retired vice-admiral of the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF). Koda served both at sea with various fleets and on shore with the Maritime Staff Office (MSO). Before his 2008 retirement, his appointments included director general, operations and plans department, MSO; commander, Fleet Escort Force; director general, Joint Staff Office; commandant, JMSDF, Sasebo District; and commander-in-chief, Self Defense Fleet, Yokosuka. Admiral Koda has written and published a host of articles on Japanese military history and security both in his native language and in English. His research specifically focuses on the directions that the US-Japan alliance may take over the next few decades.

Robert S. Ross is professor of political science at Boston College, an associate at the Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies, Harvard University, and senior advisor to the security studies program at MIT. His research focuses on Chinese security policy and East Asian security, including Chinese use of force and the role of nationalism in Chinese defense policy. His recent publications include New Directions in the Study of Chinese Foreign Policy and Chinese Security Policy (2006). He is a member of the Academic Advisory Group, US-China Working Group, US Congress; the Council on Foreign Relations; and the National Committee for US-China Relations.