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Masafumi Iida

Director, Security Studies Department, National Institute for Defense Studies (NIDS)

Professor Iida has focused his research primarily on China’s foreign and security policies and, in particular, implications of China’s maritime advancement for the security in the Indo-Pacific region. While working for the NIDS, he completed a term as a visiting scholar with the Center for East Asian Studies at Stanford University in 2011 and with the China Maritime Studies Institute at the U.S. Naval War College in 2014. He holds a BA in Policy Management and a MA in Media and Governance from Keio University, in addition to a MA in East Asian Studies from Stanford University.

Articles by Masafumi Iida

Politics

A divided Japan faces a divided world: Ishiba’s dual challenge

Japan under Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba faces a resurgent Trump, escalating US-China tensions and a weakened domestic base after election losses. These hurdles threaten Ishiba’s foreign policy agenda and the Indo-Pacific’s stability. Japanese academic Masafumi Iida analyses the situation.

Masafumi Iida

04 Dec 2024

Politics

Japanese academic: Why Japan should join AUKUS

Japan’s potential inclusion in AUKUS could bolster defence capabilities for all members, but China views it as a NATO-like expansion. Japanese academic Masafumi Iida discusses the issue.

Masafumi Iida

18 Jun 2024

Politics

Japanese academic: China has pushed the Philippines to the US’s side

With its participation in the US-Japan-Philippines trilateral summit and the Japan-US-Philippines-Australia defence ministers’ meeting, the Philippines is moving closer to the orbit of the US and its allies. This will have greater implications on peace and security in the South China Sea and East Asia, says Japanese academic Masafumi Iida.

Masafumi Iida

30 May 2024

Politics

Japanese academic: Necessary for Japan to support Philippines' security capabilities

Amid rising tensions in the South China Sea between the Philippines and China, Japan is looking to forge closer security relations with the Philippines. An envisaged reciprocal access agreement between the Philippines and Japan would be an important step towards that end and help to achieve maritime stability in East Asia.

Masafumi Iida

27 Nov 2023

Politics

Closer trilateral US-Japan-Philippines ties to protect security interests against China

Closer Japan-Philippines security cooperation announced during Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos' visit to Japan this month augurs closer trilateral US-Japan-Philippines cooperation in defending each of their interests against China, says Japanese academic Masafumi Iida.

Masafumi Iida

20 Feb 2023

Politics

Japanese academic: Why Japan needs to level up its military capabilities

Japan has recently announced updates to its national defence strategy, which shows a shift of focus from building defence capabilities to developing "counterattack capabilities" in enemy territory, citing the rapidly worsening security environment as the key factor for doing so. Japanese academic Masafumi Iida also suggests cooperation with Southeast Asian nations to stabilise regional situations.

Masafumi Iida

28 Dec 2022

Politics

Japanese academic: Biden must not underestimate China's maritime ambitions

With US President-elect Joe Biden all but ready to be installed in the White House in January, Japanese academic Masafumi Iida explores how the new administration might shape the US's relations with East Asia, especially in terms of the US's military presence in the Indo-Pacific region. He argues that it is necessary for the US to learn from the failures of the Obama administration in underestimating the prowess and ambitions of China.

Masafumi Iida

29 Dec 2020