The politics and foreign policy panel was chaired by Professor Rikki Kersten (Murdoch University). Professor Purnendra Jain (University of Adelaide) outlined the dominance of Japan’s ruling LDP, the weakness of the opposition parties, and Abe’s continuing pursuit to revise Japan’s Constitution. Professor Kiichi Fujiwara explained that Abe’s balance between nationalism and pragmatism is a function of core beliefs and his desire to stay in power. Professor Rumi Aoyama (Waseda University) explained that despite significant tensions Japan-China relations have been improving, including the signing of the Maritime and Aerial Communication Mechanism and 52 MOUs for joint infrastructure development, and that pragmatism will endure as long as the US-China trade war continues. Dr Lauren Richardson (ANU) explained that the source of Japan-South Korea tensions is not just government-to-government relations but originates in relations between the South Korean government and South Korea victims of wartime Japan (forced labourers and comfort women) who oppose the Japan-ROK 1965 Basic Treaty as denying them justice.