Asia Policy Point: Programs : Air Force Asian Science & Technology Forum

The Air Force Asian Science & Technology Forum (AST Forum) grew out of an effort by the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory to educate the American defense science community about Japanese scientific and management methods and skills.

The first Forum (called the Pentagon Study Group on Japan) programs were in cooperation with the U.S.-Japan Center, University City Science Center (UCSC), Philadelphia and the Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission. The U.S. Japan Center was one of 12 U.S. Air Force-funded research centers to study Japanese science and technology management. The funding for these Centers ended in the late 1990s. The Friendship Commission is a U.S. government agency promoting the study of contemporary Japan.

The AST Forum now includes discussions of a full range of regional Asian technology and security issues. The program is designed for military officials and selected members of the U.S. defense policymaking community on critical science, technology, and security issues and trends in Asia. The fora aim to enhance cooperation among international defense science communities.

Forum participation is limited to American citizens who are neither lobbyists nor journalists and is by invitation only. The seminar format is designed to encourage a free and open discussion. All programs are accompanied by papers and resource materials that are available to the public.

The AST Fora are currently funded by a contract from Computer Sciences Corp., a prime contractor to the U.S. Air Force Office of Scientific Research, Air Force Research Laboratory, International Office (AFRL/IO). The AFRL International Office provides strategic advice, technical expertise, information, and liaison services in support of the development and maintenance of AFRL's international programs and activities.

The AST Fora are designed and coordinated by the Asia Policy Point (APP). APP welcomes inquiries from funders interested in expanding this program series.

PAST PROGRAMS

2006

Innovative India and the United States with Dr. Walter Andersen, Acting Director, South Asia Studies, Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) and Dr. Carl J. Dahlman, Georgetown University. December 5, 2006.

The New Dynamics of US-Japan Armaments Cooperation Strategies for Success. Jeffrey Bloom, International Cooperation, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense; Paul Giarra, Hicks & Associates, Co-author, Japanese Negotiating Behavior. October 4, 2006.

National Strategies to Foster Innovation in Japan with Dr. William Blanpied (George Mason University), Dr. David Kahaner (Asian Technology Information Program) and Mr. Robin Sakoda (Armitage International). May 25, 2006.

2005

Chinese Hi-tech: Strategy & Status with Dr. Michael Pillsbury, Consultant, U.S. Department of Defense; Ms. Kathleen Walsh, Professor, Naval War College; Commentator, Jeffrey Lewis, www.armscontrolwonk.com. December 6, 2005.

Innovation Indicators: China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and the US with Mr. Jerry Sheehan, Senior Economist, Science and Technology Policy, OECD and Dr. Mary Ellen Mogee, Senior Science and Technology Policy Analyst, SRI International. July 14, 2005.

International S&T Cooperation As a Critical Instrument of U.S. Foreign Policy with Dr. Norman Neureiter, AAAS Center for Science, Technology and Security Policy and Dr. Caroline Wagner, RAND. April 7, 2005.

2002

Understanding the Science, Politics & Culture of South Korea with Featuring Dr. Katy Oh (Institute for Defense Analyses), Mr. Paul Chamberlin (author Korea 2010), Dr. Junku Yuh (National Science Foundation), and Dr. Sang Seon Kim (Embassy of South Korea). September 4, 2002.

Exploring Science & Technology on Taiwan with Dr. Steven Phillips (Towson University), Dr. James Mulvenon (Rand), Ms. Bonnie Coe, Director, Program on Atlantic-Pacific Interrelationships, Atlantic Council, Major Wes Andrews (USAF), Dr. Shouhua Qi (English Department, Western Connecticut State University, author, Bridging the Pacific: Searching for Cross-cultural Understanding Between the US and China), Dr. Robert Lai, Senior Project Engineer, TRW, Inc. (retired), Amb. Harvey Feldman, Dr. Joseph Liu (AFSPC Space Analysis Center), Dr. Marshall Lih (Senior engineering advisor for engineering education and international engineering research cooperation at the NSF), Phyllis Genther Yoshida (Department of Energy), Johann Schmonsees (Taiwan Coordination Staff, Department of State). April 24, 2002.

Widening The Dialogue with India: Politics, Security, and Science with Ambassador Teresita C. Schaffer (CSIS), Dr. Stephen Cohen (Brookings Institution), and Dr. Mita Desai (National Science Foundation). Amb. Schaffer's report,Rising India and U.S. Policy Options in Asia distributed.February 7, 2002.

2001

The Cultural And Political Dimensions Of Getting To Yes With China with Amb. Richard Solomon (United States Institute of Peace), Dr. Robert Sutter (Georgetown University), Dr. Yuling Pan and Dr. Barbara Craig, (Georgetown University Asian Sociocultural Research Projects), Amb. Solomon's book, Chinese Negotiating Behavior distributed. October 30, 2001.

2000

Understanding China's Defense Industrial Complex with Dr. Richard Bitzinger, Atlantic Council; Major Kenneth Allen, USAF, Retired, TASC; Dr. John Paden, George Mason University. People's Liberation Army After Next (Army War College, 2000) distributed at the program. November 16, 2000.

Perspectives on Australia's Revolution in Military Affairs (RMA): Technology and Regional Security with Thomas-Durell Young, Naval Postgraduate School; Michael Evans, Australian Army's Land Warfare Studies Centre; Andrew Dowse, Australian Royal Air Force. July 24, 2000.

CyberWar In Asia: The Technology and Politics of Information Warfare with Dr. Daniel T. Kuehl, National Defense University and Michael Pillsbury, INSS, National Defense University. March 29, 2000.

Perspectives on Northeast Asian Science & Technology: Japan, Taiwan & South Korea with Phyllis Genther Yoshida, Department of Commerce; Robert Chang, Northwestern University; Edward Murday, Naval Research Laboratory; and Cathleen Smith, US Chamber of Commerce. January 26, 2000.

Rapid Collection and Evaluation of Asian Internet Information with T. Mathew Ciolek, head, Internet Publications Bureau, Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies at ANU in Canberra, Australia. February 18, 2000.

1999

Cracks in Japan's Science & Technology Regime with Dr. Jon Sigurdson, Director, East Asia Science & Technology Programme, The European Institute of Japanese Studies, Stockholm School of Economics. June 10, 1999.

Science, Technology and Security in North Korea with Peter Hayes and Jim Williams (Nautilus Institute). October 22, 1999.

China's Regional Security Interests with Amy Jaffe, Baker Institute for Public Policy and Bonnie Glaser, Consultant on Asian Affairs. July 28, 1999.

Don't Count Japan Out: Japanese Science & Technology Policy with Professor Alain-Marc Rieu, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Lyon, and Dr. William Blanpied, National Science Foundation. June 10, 1999.

1997

China and the U.S.-Japan Security Alliance with Ms. Bonnie Glaser, consultant to the U.S. government on Asian Affairs and Dr. Ronald Montaperto, Senior Fellow, Institute for National Strategic Studies, National Defense University. September 4, 1997.

What You Should Know About Japanese Bureaucrats with Dr. Ulrike Schaede, Graduate School of International Relations and Pacific Studies, University of California, San Diego. April 7, 1997.

Negotiating High-Technology Agreements with Japan: A Discussion with America's Top Industry Negotiators with Dr. Robert M. Orr, Jr., Director, Government Relations Office, Nippon Motorola, Ltd.; Mr. Glen S. Fukushima, Vice President, International Affairs, AT&T Japan, Ltd.; and Mr. Ira Wolf, Director, Japan Relations & Vice President, Eastman Kodak Company. March 5, 1997.

Asian Electronic Manufacturing: A Competitive Analysis with Dr. William Boulton, Olan Mills Professor of Strategic Management, College of Business, Auburn University. February 13, 1997.

Making Sense of the Peculiar U.S.-Japan Security Relationship with Dr. Steven Vogel, Assistant Professor of Government, Government Department, Harvard University. January 28, 1997.

1996

Japanese Intelligence: The Competitive Edge with Mr. James Hansen, Defense Intelligence Agency. December 3, 1996.

Defensible Positions: Negotiation & Communicating With Your Japanese Counterparts with Dr. John Means, Professor and Director, Center for Critical Languages, Temple University. October 24, 1996.

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