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DKI APCSS Monthly Activities Report
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Gray Zone Activities in Great Power Competition Webinar Videos are Online
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“Gray Zone Activities in Great Power Competition,” a virtual workshop hosted by the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies (DKI APCSS) March 8-11, 2021, featured a variety of distinguished US and partner-nation panelists from government, academia, think tanks, non-governmental organizations, and private industry to discuss whole-of-society matters that influence populations and affect legitimacy in the era of Great Power Competition. Topics include social media and big data influences, political warfare, China’s military modernization as it applies to gray zone activities, the recently-released US Defense Department’s Irregular Warfare (IW) Annex, security cooperation and partner engagements in areas short of conflict, and other subjects of strategic interest.
Videos from this workshop are now available on DKI APCSS’ YouTube Channel. Read More
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Deputy Director Hirai Participates in KNDU Webinar
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DKI APCSS Deputy Director Jim Hirai (bottom monitor) speaks to 211 participants at the Korean National Defense University March 23 during an online webinar on the topic of the US strategic approach toward the Indo-Pacific region. Prof. Sang-beom Yoo (left) set up the virtual engagement from his office and students attended from their homes. Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, the Center has conducted or participated in more than 150 online virtual engagements. Maintaining relationships with partners is vital to the mission of DKI APCSS.
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Upcoming Courses and Workshops
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DKI APCSS is offering several themed course modules in the coming months. Like the traditional in-resident courses, modules educate, connect and empower security practitioners at the executive level. Unlike courses, the modules do not confer alumni status on the participants. The format for courses in development for later in the year will be tailored to address COVID-related travel and risk conditions.
- Economics and Security Workshop – Mar. 17 - Apr. 28 (virtual)
- Comprehensive Maritime Security Cooperation (CSMC) Module - June 21-25 (virtual)
- Senior Fellow Workshop (SFW) - June 22 – 24 (virtual)
- Comprehensive Security Responses to Terrorism (CSRT) module - July 12-15 (virtual)
- Indo-Pacific Orientation Course (IPOC) – Nov. 15-19 (to be confirmed)
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 Cambodia's Aspirations for a Successful ASEAN Chairmanship, 2022: Next Steps Toward Strengthened Preparations (Mar 1). Dr. Al Oehlers (Event Lead). With the support of the U.S. Embassy in Phnom Penh, DKI APCSS partnered with the Asian Vision Institute to conduct a webinar focused on strengthening Cambodia’s preparatory processes for the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2022. A total of 42 Cambodian participants joined the webinar comprising mid-to senior-level officials from key government ministries such as Foreign Affairs, Defense, Commerce, Education, the National Bank, and Development Council, together with representatives from universities and think-tanks. Welcome remarks were provided by DKI APCSS Director Pete Gumataotao, Charge d‘Affaires Melissa Brown from the U.S. Mission to ASEAN, and Mr. Sim Vireak, Director-General of the ASEAN Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Cambodia. The webinar featured a panel of expert speakers from Vietnam and Brunei highlighting key aspects of their own Chairmanship preparations processes, with a discussant from the ASEAN Secretariat providing additional insight. Through discussion in plenary and breakout sessions, supplemented by anonymous polling before and during the webinar, major recommendations for Cambodia’s consideration included: strengthening Cambodian secretariat capabilities (especially in a pandemic context) for more effective leadership, stronger inter-ministerial coordination for resource and burden-sharing, greater attention to cybersecurity, and closer contact with the ASEAN Secretariat to benefit from assistance programs and advice. Several themes also emerged during discussions relating to potential priorities for Cambodia as ASEAN Chair. DKI APCSS shall be holding three more webinars in partnership with the Asian Vision Institute in coming months, and these themes will be pursued further during these discussions on the ASEAN Political-Security, Economic, and Social-Cultural Communities.
 South Asia Dialogues: Pakistan Bilateral Engagement (March 10). Dr. Saira Yamin (Event Lead) hosted a virtual roundtable dialogue on U.S.-Pakistan relations. The Pakistani's were led by distinguished alumnus retired Air Chief Marshal Kaleem Saadat, currently the President at the Center for Aerospace and Security Studies (CASS), a leading think-tank in Islamabad. The dialogue featured presentations by several illustrious experts and scholars on the following topics:
- "The U.S-Indo Pacific Strategy Under the Biden Administration – Implications for the U.S, Pakistan Relationship," by Mr. Henry Rector, DKI APCSS Senior Diplomatic Adviser.
- "U.S.-China strategic competition and implications for South Asian strategic stability," by Ms. Sitara Noor, CASS Senior Research Associate.
- "Prospects of peace and future of Taliban in Afghanistan," by Dr. Syed Mohammad Ali, CASS Director, Nuclear and Strategic Affairs.
- "Reset of Pak-US ties - Need for High-level Dialogue," by Ambassador Jalil Abbas Jillani, CASS Director, International Affairs. Pakistan's former Foreign Secretary and Ambassador (ret) to the U.S.
The engagement was effective in fostering a constructive and candid exchange of perspectives on U.S.-Pakistan relations and generating opportunities for the way forward. DKI APCSS leadership including Director Pete Gumataotao, Deputy Director Jim Hirai, and Dean of College Carleton Cramer participated in the dialogue. Dr. Roger Kangas, Academic Dean, represented the Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies (NESA), a sister Regional Center of DKI APCSS.
Special Operation Command, Pacific (SOCPAC) Artificial Intelligence Lecture (March 10). Dr. John Hemmings and Dr. Srini Sitaraman presented on artificial intelligence, a key area of interest for the wider Department of Defense community. They also anticipated taking questions from the live audience at the Camp Smith HQ and from other SOCPAC participants that were online. The lectures covered the origins and evolution of Artificial Intelligence from it's early stages. The lecturers traced the advances through coding, programming developments, along with major leaps in computing technology that have allowed a rapid evolution of AI tools in civilian applications, such as Facial Recognition, Banking and Finance, Health Sector, and almost every other civilian area.
 U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Education Series for Exercise Support (March 26). Prof. Wade Turvold (Event Lead). DKI APCSS is supporting the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) by presenting a series of education opportunities for regional exercise participants. The educational series will consist of six engagements from March 26 to May 21, 2021. The instruction is focused on providing geopolitical background and awareness of the Indo-Pacific region with emphasis on Southeast Asia. Specific topics include regional geopolitical landscape, maritime security, Southeast Asia sub-regional challenges, the South China Sea, Myanmar, and cybersecurity. DKI APCSS will leverage its expertise in the region and its unique capability to provide quality executive education to contribute to this effort. USINDOPACOM conducts several large-scale exercises every year, and augments its staff for more robust exercise performance. Staff augmentees come from all branches of the U.S. military, including guard and reserve components, as well as civil service personnel. The education series will enable understanding of the regional strategic background and scope of regional challenges, all to better prepare exercise participants. DKI APCSS, with its mission partner USINDOPACOM, builds resilient capacity, shared understanding, and networked relationships among civilian and military practitioners and institutions to advance a free and open Indo-Pacific. This education series will improve the outcomes of regional exercises.
 14th ADMM+ Expert Working Group on Maritime Security Meeting (Mar 30). DKI APCSS Dean Carleton Cramer (Event Lead for DKI APCSS). Thailand and the United States are the current co-chairs of the ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting Plus, Expert Working Group on Maritime Security – a forum seeking to strengthen ASEAN-led maritime security mechanisms, build trust and confidence among members, and identify and implement practical cooperative measures addressing shared maritime security challenges. The U.S. co-chair team is led by the Office of the Secretary of Defense and includes Indo-Pacific Command, U.S. Pacific Fleet, U.S. Mission to ASEAN, DKI APCSS and the Joint United States Military Advisory Group (JUSMAG), Thailand. Co-Chairs are rotated every three-years, and the 14th EWG meeting was the first for the 2021-24 Thailand-U.S. co-chair cycle. Hosted virtually by the Ministry of Defence, Thailand, all EWG members participated in the meeting, with senior representatives from all 10 ASEAN nations together with the eight Plus members, Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation and the United States. The meeting featured presentations by EWG members focused on topics such as an assessment of the regional maritime security environment, and viewpoints on “Strengthening Maritime Security Cooperation for Sustainable Development of ASEAN Member States’ Economies.” Thailand and the United States also provided updates on the workplan for the 2021-24 cycle which, apart from bi-annual EWG meetings, will also feature efforts to cooperatively develop a Maritime Security Roadmap, the convening of Maritime Security Conferences, a continuation of the Future Leaders Program, and the conduct of a Maritime Security Table-Top Exercise.
 Advanced Security Cooperation (ASC) Course 18-2 Reunion (March 24). Mr. John Gasner (Event Lead). As part of the FY21 Alumni Strategy, DKI APCSS held its inaugural Course Reunion with students from ASC 18-2. The primary purpose of this virtual reunion was to provide a platform for alumni to reestablish and leverage connections with fellow classmates, and to increase the capacity and effectiveness of alumni to contribute to individual and group efforts to advance peace, security and prosperity in the region. Highlighting this virtual meeting was the fact that several alumni managed to leverage their connections with classmates working in new positions since attending their course. As a result of this reunion, alumni strengthened connections and relations with each other and they leveraged these relationships to improve their job performance, build capacity and/or advance peace and prosperity. Alumni classmates demonstrated camaraderie and collaboration as they provided updates. They committed to staying connected and to working together to enhance security cooperation.
The Future of the US-Japan Alliance (March 25) Dr. John Hemmings (Event Lead). This two-hour virtual seminar involved partnering with the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS), a Japanese graduate school and think tank, to discuss the future of the U.S.-Japan Alliance, issues within the Alliance, as well as challenges in the region, including relations with China, Taiwan, South Korea and North Korea. Professor Narushige Michishita spoke on behalf of GRIPS, while Dr. Hemmings spoke on behalf of DKI APCSS. This event had more than 30 participants from the USA and Japan taking part, primarily from DKI APCSS itself, as well as the Department of State and from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. A second webinar with GRIPS is planned for May 25 and will be hosted by DKI APCSS. It will continue in the same track, but with a slight change of focusing on the U.S.-Japan-ROK trilateral, examining potentialities for greater defense cooperation within the trilateral, its future direction, and security on the Korean Peninsula.
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External Articles
Dr. Saira Yamin has a new article, “The Future is Female: Positioning Women as Drivers of Economic Growth,” published in a special International Women’s Day publication by UNDP Pakistan titled Womenomics: Women Powering the Economy. In this article, she highlights six Indo-Pacific countries (Japan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam) where gender inclusion in the work force is pursued as a targeted policy to accelerate economic growth, both pre- and post-COVID. Read More
Dr. Sam Mullins has a new article on “The Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism: Reassessing the Evidence” recently published by the European Institute of CT and Conflict Prevention in their EICTP Research Study: Key Determinants in the Era of COVID-19 and Beyond. Trajectory, Disruption and the Way Forward. Volume II. Read More
Dr. Sam Mullins’ latest article, “COVID-19 and Terrorism in the West: Has Radicalization Really Gone Viral?”, was recently published by the Just Security blog. Co-authored with Michael King, this analytical report looks at the forecasted wave of pandemic-induced terrorism. Read More
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Podcasts
 Transshipment and Crime: The Outlaw Ocean Project and the Carrier Vessel Portal
On February 3, 2021, DKI APCSS’ Lt. Cmdr. Keith Wilkins chatted with Mr. Ian Urbina of The Outlaw Ocean Project, Mr. Tim White of the Global Fishing Watch, and Ms. Alyson Kauffman of the Pew Charitable Trusts for a webinar on “Transshipment and Crime: The Outlaw Ocean Project and the Carrier Vessel Portal.” Read More
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 Security Nexus Articles
“Strategic Competition, Cooperation, and Accommodation: Perspectives from the Indian Ocean Region,” is the title of a paper by Dr. Saira Yamin, Maj. Daniel Cedillo, Lt. Col. Nicholas Sikes, Dr. Srini Sitaraman and Lt. Cmdr. Keith Wilkins for Security Nexus. This article highlights the diversity of perspectives on strategic competition and opportunities for cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region drawing on discussions at the three-day virtual workshop organized by DKI APCSS. Read More
“Looking Forward: Pandemic, Economic, Vaccine and Social Predictions for ‘Year Two’” is the title of a paper by Drs. Sebastian Kevany and Deon Canyon for Security Nexus. This paper provides predictions and advice for policymakers as we enter year two of the COVID pandemic. Read More
“Anti-Vaccine Sentiment – an Existential Disrupter of National and International Security” is the title of a paper by Drs. Deon Canyon and Sebastian Kevany for Security Nexus. This paper suggests that taking a harder line against “anti-vaxxers” while balancing personal rights of individuals may be a solution in flattening the COVID-19 curve. Read More
“The Sino-Russian Approach to the Maritime: A Mare Clausem System?” is the title of a paper by Dr. John Hemmings for Security Nexus. This article highlights how the increase in resources and focus gives U.S. forces the ability to push back and fight in the information domain, a space where Russia and China are increasing the tempo. Read More
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- Rear Admiral Matthew Bell, U. S. Coast Guard District 17, Rear Admiral Nate Moore and Rear Admiral Matthew W. Sibley (virtual)
- Consul General Seok-In Hong, Republic of Korea (in-house)
- Scott Carpenter, U.S. Army Futures Command (virtual)
- U.S. Air War College (virtual and in-house)
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 If you have a new e-mail address, please update your subscription to ensure you are getting the latest DKI APCSS updates. Mahalo.
If you have any questions please contact the editor at pao@apcss.org.
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 You can find past issues of the DKI APCSS Activities Report online here.
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