Conference II | The U.S.-Japan Alliance and the Challenge of Building Trusted 5G Communications Networks

As China’s Huawei began its roll-out of 5G technology, the United States and Japan have sought to identify options to counter PRC dominance of an information technology sector critical for reliable communications, business, and personal privacy. China is looking to establish long-lasting technological dependencies on its network architecture, even as its laws require Chinese firms to give its intelligence services privileged access to any communications that run across its networks. This raises serious concerns for free societies and democratic actors. In response, the Trump administration launched a Clean Network Initiative, which Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi has expressed Japan’s support for.

This year, RAND and JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles will host the “The U.S.-Japan Alliance Conference Series” consisting of two webinars. On February 25, 2021, RAND and JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles will invite leading U.S. and Japanese experts on 5G technology issues to exchange insights and understandings on how the evolving telecommunications infrastructure, role of the private sector and the government, and policy options for U.S.-Japan IT cooperation are seen by American and Japanese analysts.

*This webinar will be recorded for archival purposes.

Speakers

Keynote

Understanding What a Secure Telecommunications Infrastructure Requires

The Hon. Thomas Wheeler
Former Chairman, Federal Communications Commission (2013–2017) 
Visiting Fellow, Governance Studies, The Brookings Institution

Presenter

How Japan Sees the Challenge of Building Reliable 5G Networks

Rika Kamijima-Tsunoda
Harvard Kennedy School

Presenter

The 5G Challenges and Policy Options Facing the U.S.

Spencer Pfeifer
Associate Engineer, The RAND Corporation

Moderator

Scott W. Harold
Senior Political Scientist, The RAND Corporation

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