Name: Asian Shadows: The Hidden History of World War II in the Pacific
Start: 2017-01-18T04:30:00-05:00
End: 2017-01-18T12:00:00-05:00
Location: Hudson Institute

January 2017

Past Event

Asian Shadows: The Hidden History of World War II in the Pacific

Past Event

Hudson Institute, Washington, D.C. Headquarters

January 18, 2017

(L) General Douglas MacArthur signs the formal surrender on the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay, September 2, 1945 (US Navy/Released) (R) Chinese communist guerrilla leader Mao Tse-Tung, November 12, 1944. (Fox Photos/Getty Images)

January 2017

Past Event

1201 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Suite 400
Washington, DC 20004

Read Transcript Read Transcript Read Transcript Read Transcript Read Transcript Read Transcript

Speakers:

Sarah Paine

William S. Sims Professor of Strategy and Policy, U.S. Naval War College

Shin Kawashima

Professor, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, University of Tokyo

Junichiro Shoji

Director of the Center for Military History, National Institute for Defense Studies, Japan

Michael Sheng

Professor, Department of History, University of Akron

Edward J. Drea

Former Chief of the Research and Analysis Division, U.S. Army Center of Military History

Daqing Yang

Associate Professor of History and International Affairs, Elliott School of International Affairs, George Washington University

In the wake of the seventieth anniversary of the end of World War II, much of the discussion of the conflict in the Pacific theater has centered on the actions of Japan and the United States, from the attack on Pearl Harbor to the dropping of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. That focus leaves out key aspects of a much larger story: the struggle for empire and mastery that shaped the fate of Asia from the beginning of the twentieth century through the Korean War, and beyond.

On Wednesday, January 18, six distinguished historians presented a fresh look at this “hidden history” of the wars of twentieth century East Asia, offering new perspectives on contemporary conflicts in the region. Co-moderated by Hudson Institute Senior Fellow Arthur Herman and Hudson Institute Senior Vice President Lewis Libby, the presentations of these internationally renowned scholars challenged widely-held misconceptions and false perspectives on both the Second World War and the Korean War, and provide a better context for understanding the changing relationship between the United States and its Pacific Rim allies.

View Dr. Paine's slides.

View Dr. Kawashima's slides.

View Dr. Sheng's slides.

View Dr. Yang's slides.

November 2026

Virtual Event | Hudson Institute

A US Navy Fleet for Twenty-First-Century Deterrence and Combat

Featured Speaker:

Bryan Clark

November 2026

Virtual Event | Hudson Institute

A US Navy Fleet for Twenty-First-Century Deterrence and Combat

Join Senior Fellow Bryan Clark for a presentation of his new report, Righting the Ship: Building a Relevant US Navy Fleet for Twenty-First-Century Deterrence and Combat. He will discuss the challenges facing the US Navy and how a new fleet design could help it address its missions within likely future budget and personnel constraints. The webinar will also include time for questions and answers.

Featured Speaker:

Bryan Clark

Learn More

November 2026

In-Person Event | Hudson Institute

From Dependence to Resilience: Financing a Secure Pharmaceutical Supply Chain

Featured Speakers:

Caroline Vik

Maryll Toufanian

Nick Snyder

November 2026

In-Person Event | Hudson Institute

From Dependence to Resilience: Financing a Secure Pharmaceutical Supply Chain

Join DFC Chief Policy Officer Caroline Vik and Amneal Pharmaceuticals Senior Vice President Maryll Toufanian for a conversation moderated by Senior Fellow Nick Snyder. The discussion will examine America’s strategy to secure pharmaceutical supply chains and the work ahead for policymakers and industry as they pursue sustainable solutions in a complex market and policy environment.

Featured Speakers:

Caroline Vik

Maryll Toufanian

Nick Snyder

Learn More

November 2026

In-Person Event | Invite Only

The Future of US-Japan Cooperation in a Competitive World: Economic Security and Strategy

Featured Speakers:

Nick Snyder

Hiroyuki Nakashima

November 2026

In-Person Event | Invite Only

The Future of US-Japan Cooperation in a Competitive World: Economic Security and Strategy

Join Japan Bank for International Cooperation Senior Managing Director Hiroyuki Nakashima and Senior Fellow Nick Snyder for a conversation on the state of the US-Japan relationship, the links between economic cooperation and national security, and the opportunities and challenges ahead for the alliance.

Featured Speakers:

Nick Snyder

Hiroyuki Nakashima

Learn More

November 2026

In-Person Event | Hudson Institute

Putting Veterans First: A Conversation with Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins

Featured Speakers:

Doug Collins

Jeremy Hunt

November 2026

In-Person Event | Hudson Institute

Putting Veterans First: A Conversation with Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins

Two days after Veterans Day, United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs Douglas Collins will deliver a keynote address on the Department of Veterans Affairs’ work and his plans under President Donald Trump. He will also join Hudson Institute fellow Jeremy Hunt for a fireside chat.