The relevance of this new terminology is grounded in the common challenges the countries from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific face in terms of development, connectivity and maritime security. This conference will help deciphering the various visions for the Indo-Pacific and understanding the implications in terms of strategy and cooperation for France, India, Japan, and the US. It will take the form of an interactive discussion, organized around a set of key questions.

The conference will be held in English.

Programme

9:00-11:00 – In search of the Indo-Pacific: Experts debate four visions for the region

Chair: Françoise NICOLAS, Director, Center for Asian Studies, Ifri

• The Japanese vision: Tsuneo WATANABE, Senior Fellow, The Sasakawa Peace Foundation, Tokyo
• The French vision: Isabelle SAINT-MEZARD, Associate research Fellow, Center for Asian Studies, Ifri
• The American vision: Mira RAPP-HOOPER, Senior Fellow, Paul Tsai China Center, University of Yale and Nonresident Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution
• The Indian vision: Abhijit SINGH, Head, Maritime Policy Initiative, Observer Research Foundation (ORF), New Delhi

11:00-11:30 – Wrap-up Remarks: A French strategic vision of the Indo-Pacific region

• Nicolas REGAUD, Special Representative to the Indo-Pacific, French Ministry for the Armed Forces