A prominent philanthropist and senior fellow at the Center for American Progress in Washington, D.C., shared insights on shifting national security dynamics in the Indo-Pacific during a presentation at Bachman Hall on March 25, at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. Glen S. Fukushima, a former U.S. diplomat, highlighted a need for more policymakers from the islands who have knowledge of the political landscape in the Indo-Pacific region.
Fukushima’s talk, part of the UH Better Tomorrow Speaker Series, emphasized how national security in the region has changed over the past decade. He outlined key challenges for the U.S. in ensuring security in Asia, such as in maintaining consistent policy over time, implementing a coherent strategy and coordinating effectively with allies. He also stressed the need for more voices from Hawaiʻi who have real-world experience in Asia.
“I really would like Hawaiʻi to be more represented in the Washington policy mix because what I find is that despite the importance of Asia, there are very few people in senior positions in the U.S. government who have had experience in Asia and who can speak and read Asian languages and have had real experience working in Asia,” Fukushima said.
Hawaiʻi, he noted, holds significant advantages in this area. “There’s just a lot that Hawaiʻi has in terms of the University of Hawaiʻi, the East-West Center, and others that are experts in Asia.”
Vast expertise
UH Mānoa has long been recognized for its excellence in Asian and Pacific Islands studies. The UH Center for Indo-Pacific Affairs (CIPA), established in 2022 with congressional funding, serves as a think tank addressing security challenges and providing student development opportunities.
“When we did an inventory, we were surprised that in addition to our area experts, we have at our area centers are faculty across the campus, across disciplines with expertise in the Indo-Pacific,” said Petrice Flowers, director at CIPA.
Fukushima’s presentation was sponsored by the UH Mānoa Center for Japanese Studies, College of Social Sciences, Better Tomorrow Speaker Series and East-West Center.
More on Fukushima
Fukushima is vice chair of the Securities Investor Protection Corporation, former president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan, and former Deputy Assistant United States Trade Representative for Japan and China.
