The information and opinions below are provided for reference only and do not reflect the policies, opinions, or views of the Global Risk Mitigation Foundation itself or of any of its affiliated organizations.
Improving the Ability of the U.S. to Respond to Challenges in the Asia Pacific Region
Implications of improvements in the U.S./Japan Alliance
Mr. Grant Newsham discusses the enhancement of the ability of the United States to respond to so-called, "grey zone" challenges in the Asia Pacific Region by improving its partnership & alliance with Japan. Grant emphasizes that it is important to get that relationship more on an equal footing, with the Japanese carrying more of their share of the defense load and the positive implications of a true partnership Japan with U.S. allies throughout the Region.
Mr. Newsham is a Risk Mitigation Advisor, expert in the geopolitics of the Asia-Pacific Region, and the CEO of the affiliated "3rd Rail" non-profit which collaborates closely with the Risk Mitigation Foundation. He is also a retired Marine Colonel and the former (and first) U.S. Marine liaison officer to the Japanese Self Defense Forces. Interestingly, Grant was also the Director of Risk Security for Morgan Stanley in Japan.
North Korea's Nuclear Belligerence: Enough to Push South Korea into Nuclear Weapons?
Public opinion is surpising
Dr. David Santoro, a Risk Mitigation Advisor and the CEO of the affiliated Sensitive Technologies non-profit discusses public opinion in South Korea and the possibility of that country moving to embrace the development of nuclear weapons. Dr. Santoro is is an expert in nuclear non-proliferation and sensitive technologies.
Interview with Grant Newsham on Asia Geopolitics
Australia, Japan, U.S., China, Senkakus, South Korea, North Korea, and Okinawa issues
Mr. Grant Newsham, a Risk Mitigation Advisor and CEO of the Risk Mitigation Foundation's affiliated "3rd Rail" non-profit organization, is interviewed here by the Australian Institute of International Affairs. This far-ranging interview covers: advantages to Australia with the development of its amphibious capability; steps that Japan must take to resist China over the Senkakus and the East China Sea; the U.S. involvement required in the East China Sea; what needs to happen to resolve the Okinawa situation; and, "movement" in the relationship between Japan and South Korea. Mr. Newsham makes some interesting observations regarding the perspective of South Korea's younger generations vis.a.vis North Korea.
The Mindset in Beijing Regarding Protests
Hong Kong or others in China
Risk Mitigation executive Elizabeth Chan (CEO) joins David Day (Chairman) in this televised discussion of the mindset and fear that the leadership Beijing has regarding internal protests in China. Set in the context of the "Umbrella Revolution" of student protests in Hong Kong, this discussion is equally applicable to most other internal protests under Beijing's jurisdiction.
"Before attacking North Korea, please try everything else"
Try sanctions, real sanctions this time.
Published in Asia Times, Grant Newsham makes the case for trying real sanctions that have yet to ever be put in place--ones that severely crack down on all of North Korea's "licit" activities, including: banking, trade, currency exchanges/movement, and diplomatic engagement, among other areas. Mr. Newsham points out that while Pyongyang engages in a range of illicit fund-raising activities, including currency counterfeiting, illegal drug manufacturing and cyber crime to name a few, it is the the “licit” moneymaking operations around the world that are most astonishing and that could be shut down. For the full text of the article, click below.
Grant Newsham is a Risk Mitigation Advisor and the CEO of its affiliated, "3rd Rail," non-profit organization.
Will Japan Move to Develop Nuclear Weapons?
What would it take?
Dr. David Santoro, a Risk Mitigation Advisor and the CEO of the affiliated Sensitive Technologies non-profit discusses the possibility of Japan moving to embrace the development of nuclear weapons. Dr. Santoro is is an expert in nuclear non-proliferation.
Elizabeth Chan: Overview of Democracy Protests in Hong Kong
Unusual HK Police Conduct
Risk Mitigation executive Elizabeth Chan (CEO) joins David Day (Chairman) in this televised discussion as an overview of the "Umbrella Revolution" of student protests in Hong Kong, their impact upon business and the unusual conduct of the Hong Kong police.
Thailand's Coup or not a Coup?
An overview
Kerry Gershaneck, was asked about his expert perspective on Thailand's "coup" in this television broadcast.
Prof. Kerry Gershaneck, a member of the Board of Advisors for the Risk Mitigation Hub of the Alliance, is also The Distinguished Visiting Professor at Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy, and a Senior Research Associate at the Thammasat University Faculty of Law 'German Southeast Asia Center of Excellence for Public Policy and Good Governance' in Bangkok. Kerry is the the single foreign professor/instructor at Thailand's West Point equivalent (Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy).
Prof. Gershaneck is also a Senior Associate at Pacific Forum CSIS.
Dr. Eldridge's Advice re Japan's Strategy on TPP Debated on the Floor of the Diet
Dr. Robert Eldridge, a member of the Risk Mitigation Foundation's Board of Advisors and the CEO of its affiliated Project Information Office for the Alliance in Japan, was interviewed in a feature article in the major Japan newspaper, the Sankei Shimbun, on December 8 on trade and the TPP. In that interview, Dr. Eldridge offered his advice on the direction that Japan should take on these critical issues. Later that same morning, on the floor of the Diet, House of Councilors' Member Mitsuo Gima of Upper House’s Special Committee on the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement, cited the article and Dr. Eldridge's trade advice and approach in an exchange directly with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Dr. Eldridge had recommended Japan move forward with the agreement regardless of U.S. participation and develop a market and institutions that the United States and other democratic countries abiding by the rule of law and good governance would wish to join.
Prime Minister Abe, in his response, implied that Japan would follow the direction suggested by Dr. Eldridge. Shortly thereafter, Japan did, in fact, ratify the TPP.
You can view Dr. Eldridge's Sankei Shimbun article here (in Japanese) and you can watch the exchange between Councilor Gima and Prime Minister Abe here.