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Professor Kei Hakata talked about Japan's economic and social challenges, the country's foreign policy and its responses to the changing world order. The Japanese expert was interviewed by Gábor Molnár, a student of the MCC's University Program at the MCC regional center in Miskolc.
Japan has always been a leading player in the Indo-Pacific region and today it continues to maintain its dominant role, especially in foreign policy, says a professor at Seikei University in Tokyo. Japan wants to send a message of an "open and free international order based on the rule of law" not only to the Indo-Pacific region but to the world.
Faced with the growing challenges posed by China and other authoritarian states, Japan stresses the need to establish security and stability. Today, we are faced with issues such as geopolitical competition, climate change, and the impact of scientific and technological progress on nations, societies and individuals, among others," he stressed. In addition, he added, as Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio said, there is a lack of a universally accepted guiding vision of what the international order should be. This was clearly demonstrated by the different reactions of countries to the Russia-Ukraine war.
Japan is seeking to enhance connectivity among the states of the Indo-Pacific region, while respecting the historical and cultural diversity of each country and "equal partnership" among nations, Kei Hakata said. He said that Japan is calling for the creation of a world order where different nations live and prosper together - within the rule of law - without being forced into geopolitical competition.
Professor Kei Hakata is visiting our country for the 5th time. As he said, he himself has great respect for our country and believes that the two countries share a relationship based on mutual respect. He has also expressed his positive views on Hungary's immigration policy in several forums. He believes that the two nations have similar views on this issue, as Japan does not want to solve its labour shortage with illegal immigrants.
