"Japan's Approach to China" with Hotaka Machida

On September 5, MERICS hosted an exclusive presentation and discussion for MERICS Members and key stakeholders on "Japan's Approach to China" by renowned economist and China expert Hotaka Machida.

The discussion delved into the multifaceted economic relationship between Japan and China, exploring the balance between strategic competition and necessary cooperation. Hotaka Machida addressed the significant challenges facing international businesses, including economic coercion and the wider impact of the U.S.-China rivalry and the implications for Europe. Furthermore, he examined potential avenues for practical engagement and explore what Europe can learn from the Japanese approach in shaping its own economic and diplomatic strategy towards China.

Hotaka Machida is currently a Visiting Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Geoeconomics in Tokyo, where his work focuses on economic security, geoeconomics, and Japan's economic statecraft. He has previously worked at Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where he served in key roles in the China and Mongolia Division and the Economic Policy Division, and was also posted to the Embassy of Japan in Washington D.C.