Standing room only for Japan’s Vice Admiral Yoji Koda

One of Japan's leading maritime security experts and strategists, Vice Admiral Koda led a discussion earlier this month on the main factors that affect maritime security in the Asia-Pacific region to a full house. 

This special briefing was designed to discuss current and ongoing security issues including: sea lines of communications; the South China Sea dispute; China's strategic rise as a maritime power; and the prospects of conflict in the region. 

In a first for the Centre for Global Research, the event was co-hosted by the School of Global, Urban and Social Studies, RMIT University, and the Department of Social Sciences and Security Studies, Curtin University. 

Attendance was double our expectations, with standing room only in the Council Chambers once the Vice Admiral began his remarks.  Event facilitator and Academic Director of the centre, Paul Battersby, was pleased with both the turn out and the discussion, and hopes to hold more events in conjunction with his Curtin University colleagues in the future. 

About the Speaker: Vice Admiral Yoji Koda

Vice Admiral Koda is a graduate of Japan Defense Academy (1972), JMSDF Staff College, and the U.S. Naval War College.

As a surface officer, he took commanded of JS Sawayuki (DD-125), Destroyer Flotilla Three and Fleet Escort Force at sea. His shore duty includes Director General (DG) for Plans and Operations, Maritime Staff and DG Joint Staff as well as Commandant JMSDF Sasebo District.

Vice Admiral Koda retired from JMSDF as Commander in Chief, Self-Defense Fleet, in 2008. Then, he was invited to Asia-Center, Harvard University as a research fellow on Chinese Naval Strategy from June 2009 to July 2011.

Vice Admiral Koda is a proficient writer on maritime affairs and military history. His recent articles include: The Russo-Japanese War: Primary Causes of Japanese Success, U.S. Naval War College, Japanese Perspective on China's Rise as a Naval Power, Harvard Asia Quarterly, A New Carrier Race: Strategy, Force Planning and JS Hyuga, U.S. Naval War College, The U.S.- Japan Alliance:Responding to China's A2/ AD Threat, Center for New American Security, and Maritime Security in the Region: SCS and ECS as Key Arenas for Converging Political Interests, Asia Pacific Review, Institute for International Policy Studies.

Vice Admiral Koda contributed to Refighting the Pacific War: Alternative History of World War II (U.S. Naval Institute Press). He co-authored Maritime Strategy and National Security in Japan and Britain (Leiden and Boston, Global Oriental). He had served as an advisor to National Security Secretariat of GOJ until March 2016.

The Centre thanks the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, the School of Global, Urban and Social Studies, RMIT University, and Briggs Communications for their support of the event. 

Story: Rebecca Carroll-Bell