Robert Ward (@RobertAlanWard) / X

Robert Ward

28.3K posts

Robert Ward

@RobertAlanWard

Director of Geo-economics, Japan Chair ジャパン・チェア・プログラム Senior Fellow for Japanese Security Studies at The International Institute for Strategic Studies @iiss_org

linkedin.com/in/robert-ward…

Joined December 2013

Pinned
Robert Ward
@RobertAlanWard
May 7, 2025
Very pleased to announce that my new @IISS_org Adelphi book on Japan is nearly with us. The tome considers whether Japan’s new grand strategy, defence reforms & more are up to the strategic task that Japan has set itself against the background of increasing tensions around
Robert Ward
@RobertAlanWard
Jul 8, 2022
Abe Shinzo 🧵 It’s hard to overstate the transformative importance of Abe’s 2nd administration in 2012-20. Both for Japan and the region. One of 🇯🇵’s most strategically alert PMs, he introduced institutional changes, eg creating the National Security Council, that…
Robert Ward
@RobertAlanWard
Apr 3, 2018
Twittersphere going mad for BTS’s #FaceYourselfOutNow as K-pop continues its march to global domination. K-pop in Japanese as the boys do their bit for ROK-Japan relations.
BTS JAPAN OFFICIAL
@BTS_jp_official
Feb 1, 2018
#BTS ( #防弾少年団 ) 日本 3rd アルバム『FACE YOURSELF』、4月4日発売決定！メンバー個別握手会（参加記念グッズ付き）の開催が決定！詳細はこちら→ bts-official.jp/news/detail.ph…
Robert Ward
@RobertAlanWard
Jun 25, 2024
This picture of King Charles and Japan’s Emperor Naruhito at today’s Ceremonial Arrival speaks volumes about the excellent state of UK-Japan relations - stronger now than for many, many years and increasingly strategic across a broad spectrum. #国費訪問
Robert Ward
@RobertAlanWard
Jul 11, 2024
A Times map showing US bases in Japan and South Korea and future bases in the Philippines.
Robert Ward
@RobertAlanWard
Mar 30, 2022
With the first visit to Japan in nearly two and a half years looming tantalisingly on the horizon, feeling the need to reacquaint myself with the thing of intricate beauty that is the Tokyo-Yokohama-Chiba railway map.
Robert Ward
@RobertAlanWard
Jul 8, 2022
Replying to @RobertAlanWard
…strengthened 🇯🇵govt decision making and improved 🇯🇵’s ability to respond to dramatic shifts in regional balance of power. His 2nd admin also ushered in major security reforms, eg 🇯🇵’s 1st National Security Strategy in 2013, 2015 legislation to expand SDF role…
Robert Ward
@RobertAlanWard
Jul 8, 2022
Replying to @RobertAlanWard
…Japan’s rescue of the TPP after US withdrawal and its relaunch as CPTPP was a signature achievement of the 2nd Abe admin. Indo-Pacific trade would be strategically poorer without the CPTPP, esp given emergence of China-dominated RCEP…
Robert Ward
@RobertAlanWard
Jul 8, 2022
Replying to @RobertAlanWard
…His 2nd admin also saw Japan start to strategically flex its geo-economic power. The 2016 Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) concept is part of this, an organising tool of economic statecraft that has gained traction well beyond 🇯🇵…
Robert Ward
@RobertAlanWard
Jul 8, 2022
Replying to @RobertAlanWard
…Abe was also an early mover in recognising the threat from China’s rise. His keynote at 2014 @IISS_org Shangri-La Dialogue was prescient in its call for ‘the rule of law for all of us’ given China’s subsequent attempts to change status quo in region m.youtube.com/watch?v=mTDg5y……
Robert Ward
@RobertAlanWard
Jul 8, 2022
Replying to @RobertAlanWard
…But overall, Abe’s legacy has left Japan as an indispensable support for the rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific, whose importance will rise further as tensions in the South/East China Seas and elsewhere increase…
Robert Ward
@RobertAlanWard
Dec 12, 2018
#Japan has a terrible year for natural disasters in 2018 -worst floods in 36 years -hottest summer since 1945 -worst typhoon in 25 yrs -and the earthquake of “unprecedented” intensity for Hokkaido Japan picks 'disaster' character to define 2018 - BBC News
Japan picks 'disaster' character to define 2018
From bbc.com
Robert Ward
@RobertAlanWard
Jul 8, 2022
Replying to @RobertAlanWard
…Recognising that Japan needed help in region, Abe also deepened Japan’s links with allies/partners, eg India, Australia. The rebirth of Quad, of which he was a progenitor, in 2017 accelerated this. Abe also deployed Trump blasts to craft 🇯🇵’s 🇨🇳policy the-american-interest.com/2020/04/10/the……
The Virtues of a Confrontational China Strategy - The American Interest
From the-american-interest.com
Robert Ward
@RobertAlanWard
Jun 25, 2024
The Ceremonial Arrival of Their Majesties The Emperor and Empress of Japan at Horse Guards Parade, their greeting by the King and Queen and The Prince of Wales and their departure for The Mall by carriage. What a privilege to see this historic event. #statevisitjapan #国賓訪問