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.