Deeper Look

Key achievements at the COP28 UN climate change conference in Dubai included an agreement to transition away from fossil fuels. But on our current trajectory, can the world limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, and what are the most urgent climate issues to be addressed in 2024? Former Deputy Special Envoy for Climate at the US State Department, Jonathan Pershing evaluates COP28 and the focus for COP29.

American democracy comes under the spotlight this year with the US Presidential election being held in November with a likely rematch between current President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump. What is the current state of American democracy, will the election process impact its future, and what ramifications will unfold for global democracy? Democracy expert Larry Diamond, Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University, offers his opinion.

2024 is a high-stakes election year around the world, with over 4 billion people being eligible to vote. Taiwan recently selected a new president, and key elections will be held in the US and India. How will the unfolding dynamics of elections reshape the global democratic landscape? Are we facing a crisis in global democracy, or does it require more time to develop? Larry Diamond, Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution and the Freeman Spogli Institute at Stanford University, offers insights.

Rising tensions in multiple regions now challenge the world. Conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine continue to complicate the geopolitical landscape. What are the implications of these conflicts for the US and its allies? What does this mean for the future of global order and US leadership? Joseph Nye, Emeritus Professor and former Dean of Harvard's Kennedy School of Government, discusses these issues.

As China and India increase their presence in the Indo-Pacific, the regional power balance is shifting. The US and Japan have been deepening their security alliance and strengthening cooperation with countries in the region to adapt to the changing dynamics. What is next for the Japan-US alliance? How can the two nations, with Indo-Pacific countries, bring stability to the region? American foreign policy expert and former US Assistant Secretary of Defense Joseph Nye offers his insights.

At this stage, the 2024 US presidential race will likely be a rematch between current President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump. However, the candidates' unpopularity is a concern for Americans across the political spectrum. What issues will shape the 2024 election and its outcome? Elaine Kamarck, US electoral expert at the Brookings Institution and Democratic National Committee member, joins the program.

Despite ongoing legal troubles, former President Donald Trump will likely win the Republican presidential nomination. And as the presidential election gets closer, his influence over the party grows stronger. How is Trump attracting supporters and changing the Republican Party, and what implications does this have for the future of US politics? Republican pollster and political consultant Whit Ayres shares his insights.

At the recent National People's Congress, Chinese leadership announced an economic growth target of around 5% for 2024. Also, the law was revised to call on the government to uphold Xi's guiding principles and to ensure continued leadership by the Communist Party. What is President Xi Jinping's strategy, and how should the US and its allies respond? China policy expert Elizabeth Economy, senior fellow at Stanford University's Hoover Institution, offers her analysis.

Rapid development in AI technology has triggered concerns about its risks, such as deep fakes and rogue AI. Landmark AI rules to address these issues have recently been adopted in the EU. However, the debate on regulation is still ongoing. What are the emerging AI risks? And how can we regulate them to avert potential crises? Yoshua Bengio, founder and scientific director of Mila – Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute, explains.

The development of AI systems that can learn and reason like humans is advancing. However, as big tech companies increase their influence, concerns over the concentration of power are growing. How will AI transform our future, and how important is global cooperation with countries like China in ensuring that AI benefits all societies? Yoshua Bengio, founder and scientific director of the Mila – Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute, offers his insights.

During an official visit to the US, Prime Minister Kishida and President Biden reaffirmed the US-Japan Alliance and cooperation on defense and security. A trilateral summit was also held with Philippine President Marcos, bolstering the three countries' partnership amid rising tensions in the South China Sea. How significant was this visit, and what impact could the outcomes have on security in the Indo-Pacific? Former National Security Council member Christopher Johnstone shares his insights.

As global events affect the security and stability of the Indo-Pacific, the Japan-US Alliance continues to be one of the most important partnerships. The two nations have committed to expand their engagement and address the world's most pressing challenges. Richard Armitage, former US Deputy Secretary of State, discusses the significance of the Japan-US Alliance, how it has developed over the years and the alliances' role as a global leader.

China's pressure in the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait is increasing uncertainties in the Indo-Pacific as developments in the Middle East and Ukraine are adding instability to the region. What are the biggest risks, and how can regional players like the US, Japan and India cooperate to mitigate them? Former US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage, who has been deeply involved in US security policy in the Indo-Pacific, offers his insights.

Once the realm of Cold War superpowers, today, space agencies worldwide, including the US, China and Japan, are competing in lunar exploration. Why has the moon become a focal point, and how is the landscape of space exploration changing? Former Executive Secretary of the National Space Council Scott Pace explains.

Trade tensions between the US and China are on the rise. President Biden recently announced a range of new tariffs on Chinese products that could affect about 18 billion dollars' worth of Chinese imports. How will China respond? What are the implications for US-China relations and the global economy? And how could these trade policies be affected by the US presidential election? Leading expert on US-China commercial relations, Scott Kennedy, offers his insights.

Tensions on the Korean Peninsula are heating up again as North Korea recently sent giant balloons filled with trash and waste into South Korea and continues to launch ballistic missiles. What future provocations might North Korea undertake and how can the US, Japan and South Korea form closer trilateral cooperation to prevent a potential conflict escalation? Former US National Security Council member and leading expert on the Korean Peninsula and East Asia, Sue Mi Terry, offers her insights.

2024 is an unprecedented election year, with half of the world's population heading to the polls. With so many elections at stake globally, there is growing fear over how AI-generated disinformation might affect voters. How can AI impact elections, and what can be done to combat it? Maria Ressa, 2021 Nobel Peace Prize winner and CEO of the digital news site Rappler, joins the discussion.

As big tech's dominance of AI-driven social media and content deepens, there are growing fears that authoritarian regimes and malign actors could exploit AI in negative ways. Is AI being misused by powerful tech companies and governments to manipulate us, and how can we prevent it from becoming weaponized? Maria Ressa, Nobel Peace Prize winner and CEO of Rappler, the Filipino news platform, shares her insights.

India is experiencing rapid economic growth. The IMF predicts that by 2027, India will surpass Japan and Germany to become the world's third-largest economy. What steps should India take to become the next economic superpower? How will this impact the power balance for Indo-Pacific countries reliant on China for trade? Raghuram Rajan, former Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, and professor at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, joins the program.

In collaboration with its international partners, the US plans to return to the Moon with its Artemis program. NASA and Japan have agreed to advance sustainable human exploration of the Moon. Japan will develop a lunar rover, while NASA will offer Japanese astronauts the opportunity to land on the Moon's surface. How significant is the Japan-US space exploration alliance? And how is NASA strengthening cooperation with other Asian partners? NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy offers details.

As Japan and the US prepare for new leadership, what might this mean for each country's strategic priorities, and how could shifts impact the future of the Japan-US Alliance in an increasingly uncertain world? Michael Green, CEO of the US Studies Centre, University of Sydney, offers his insights.

With China's increasing power, US policies have shifted from commitment to competition, intensifying current tensions. How has history shaped US-China relations, and how does it affect security in Asia? Michael Green, CEO of the United States Studies Centre, University of Sydney, joins the discussion.

As we witness the drastic effects of climate change, what progress has been made on climate action? With COP29, the United Nations Climate Change Conference approaching, we asked Catherine McKenna, Chair of the UN High-Level Expert Group on Net-Zero Commitments of Non-State Entities, about tracking climate commitments.

Asian nations are some of the biggest carbon emitters in the world, with China, India and Japan being in the top five. But they are also leading the way in green tech in both the private and public sectors. Catherine McKenna, Chair of the UN High-Level Expert Group on Net-Zero Commitments, offers her insights on how Asian countries can expedite climate action at home and throughout the region.

Can the UN Security Council still be effective at peacekeeping, and what role can Japan play amid rising geopolitical tensions? Japan's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Yamazaki Kazuyuki, discusses his views on the UN's challenges to effectively maintain international peace and security and how Japan contributes.

Can Japan lead the world in making the ideal of nuclear disarmament into reality? Even as the 80th anniversary of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings approaches and the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to Nihon Hidankyo, threats of nuclear attacks continue. Japan's Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Yamazaki Kazuyuki, discusses the current state of nuclear disarmament.

How will Trump's policies impact an already polarized nation and a chaotic international stage? Tatsumi Yuki from the Stimson Center discusses the aftermath of the US presidential election and America's future.

In what ways will Prime Minister Ishiba's partnership with President-elect Trump be distinct from earlier administrations, and what implications will it hold for the Indo-Pacific region?

Sake imports are up, retail shops are proliferating, and more local sake breweries are opening in the US. Sake Educator Timothy Sullivan explains why and how Americans are enjoying this traditional Japanese beverage, now joining the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list.