As the world emerges from the devastation of the coronavirus pandemic, the security and economic challenges facing the nations of Asia again come into focus. Is a lasting peace agreement possible on the Korean peninsula? Will China continue to pursue a more assertive policy, and will they dominate the region’s economic future as American influence recedes? Learn about current security issues, political developments, and economic trends in Asia and their implications for US interests.

Presenter: Ambassador William Itoh is professor of the practice in the Department of Public Policy at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. He was a career Foreign Service officer and served as executive secretary of the National Security Council at the White House and as US ambassador to Thailand. He holds BA and MA degrees from UNM, was a logistics officer in the US Air Force, and assistant professor of history at California State University Humboldt.