Established in 1991, Asia Policy Point (APP) is a nonprofit , membership policy research center located in Washington, DC.

In January 2006, APP changed its name from the Japan Information Access Project (JIAP) to Asia Policy Point to better reflect its research focus on the U.S. policy relationship with Northeast Asia.

The goal is to provide Western researchers, analysts, scholars, and policy officials with the tools to better understand Japanese and Northeast Asian science, technology, security, economic and pubic policies.

Through a range of programs and publications, the Project educates its members, policymakers, and the public to use knowledge of Japan and Asia to increase national strategic competitiveness and security.

A Unique Washington Resource
The Asia Policy Point has a number of unique features for a Washington research center on Asia. APP has an emphasis on science and technology as a fundamental aspect of contemporary foreign policy. APP advocates no one ideology or stance. APP searches for and introduces emerging scholars to the Washington policy community.

APP research is done by individual scholars who are specialists in the subject under study. APP does not generate policy studies chaired by figurehead scholars and staffed by policy generalists. And in contrast to many nonprofit organizations that study Asia, APP accepts minimual funding from Asian sources.

Independent Decisionmakers
The end goal is not to create an avalanche of information, but to create citizens who are independent problem-solvers--citizens who have available, and possess the know-how to use, Asia-related information to address contemporary policy challenges.

Asia Policy Point carries forward its objectives by

• Organizing meetings and private briefings that bring together substantive Asia experts and policymakers
  
• Publishing research guides, newsletters, translations, and regular reports designed to give analysts and policymakers easy access to information and expertise on East Asia.
  
• Assisting members on how to structure and disseminate their policy research on Japan and Northeast Asia
  
• Identifying and promoting young scholars and innovative research to the greater Washington policy community.