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U.S.-China Rivalry Looms Large at Shangri-La

But the two countries’ defense chiefs won’t be holding a meeting on the summit’s sidelines.

World Brief |
Christina Lu

The U.S. and China Are Caught in a Technology Trap

The world’s two largest economies are walking a tightrope between bad blood and good business.

Report |
Rishi Iyengar, Robbie Gramer

The U.S. Needs to Get Out of the Way on China

Washington should start letting other countries take the lead.

Argument |
Luke de Pulford

What in the World?

Test yourself on the week of May 27: Another round of airstrikes batters Syria, a Senegalese opposition leader is arrested, and China makes another appeal for peace.

Quiz |
Drew Gorman
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: Nothing but Net: Fighting the Scourge of Malaria

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Japan and the US: The Bigger Picture

Nothing but Net: Fighting the Scourge of Malaria

Mosquito-Net
Mosquito-Net

A local African woman enjoys the safety of a Sumitomo net

Malaria claims the lives of 460,000 Africans each year. Fortunately, an invention from Japan-based Sumitomo Chemical has made a big difference in stopping the mosquitoes that spread malaria. It is one of many success stories from Japanese companies that are committed to working hand-in-hand with local Africans to save lives, develop physical infrastructure and human capital, and create sustainable economic growth for a vibrant Africa.

Sumitomo Chemical developed a technology that embeds insecticide directly in the fiber of mosquito nets. It is so effective at preventing malaria that it has earned a seal of approval from the World Health Organization. Unlike other mosquito nets, Sumitomo’s Olyset Net doesn’t easily fray into holes, and uses insecticide technology that repels and kills mosquitos for up to five years. These mosquito nets are also helpful in the ongoing efforts to eliminate Zika by killing the day-biting mosquitos that spread the virus.

Representative of Japan’s long-term commitment to Africa, Sumitomo Chemical felt that their nets should be produced where they were needed –in local African communities – to create jobs for and improve the technical skills of local people. Sumitomo Chemical has jumpstarted a vibrant homegrown ecosystem for producing nets in Tanzania by partnering with A to Z Textile Mills, a family-owned manufacturer in Arusha, Tanzania. “We created 7,000 jobs, and 90 percent of the jobs were filled by women,” says Sumitomo strategic communications and marketing manager Adam Flynn.

In 2003, the company produced 3 million nets a year but boosted that number to 30 million nets by 2009. Each locally produced net is a symbol not just of a potential life saved but also of a life forever changed by exposure to the technical skills, community empowerment, and business culture unique to Japan. As the Sumitomo example shows, preventing the loss of lives is only the first step to a vibrant Africa; Japan has also shown a long-term commitment to the human security and infrastructure development that Africa needs to shine.

revised Noguchi graphic 2

revised Noguchi graphic 2

Other Stories in Japan and the US: The Bigger Picture

  • Japan and the US: The Bigger Picture — Home
  • Partners in Prosperity
  • Investing in the US and its Communities
  • Supporting U.S. Economic Growth
  • Japanese Notebook Turns the Page for Infant Health
  • Akie Abe Speaks Her Own Mind to Give Women A Voice
  • The Results Are In—Womenomics Is Working
  • FP’s U.S. Japan Forum 2016
  • Japan’s Contribution to a More Vibrant Africa
  • Japan’s Commitment to Development in Africa
  • Japan Is a Technology and Innovation Leader
  • Takeda breathes new life into drug development
  • Fujifilm captures hope in Ebola fight
  • Combating Climate Change: A Global Commitment
  • Creating Greener Communities in the U.S.
  • Supercharging the U.S. Power Supply

Watch the FP Japan Event

See the replay of FP's recent event in Washington, D.C. on the future of the US-Japan relationship here.

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Political & Economic Resources

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Cultural Resources

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Japan and the US: The Bigger Picture is a series of sponsored reports and articles studying the long-standing alliance between Japan and the United States with a focus on unique economic and political success stories. It is underwritten by the Embassy of Japan and produced by an independent writer in conjunction with the business department of The FP Group.

Japan and the US: The Bigger Picture does not involve the editorial staff of Foreign Policy magazine or ForeignPolicy.com.

For any questions or comments, please contact Duc Luu, Director, International, at duc.luu@foreignpolicy.com.

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Are America and Europe Aligned on China?

June 7, 2023  |  11:00am ET
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The war in Ukraine has propelled the United States and Europe closer on a variety of foreign-policy issues. But do Washington and Brussels agree on how to deal with Beijing’s growing clout...Show more?  The signs are mixed. The trans-Atlantic alliance NATO has formally declared China a strategic threat, but there are also emerging gaps in how various European capitals and Washington want to engage with Beijing. What exactly are these differences, and how will they impact the world’s relations with China? Join FP’s Ravi Agrawal for a discussion with experts on both sides of the Atlantic: Cindy Yu, an assistant editor of the Spectator and host of its podcast Chinese Whispers; and James Palmer, author of FP’s weekly China Brief newsletter. FP subscribers can send in their questions in advance. 

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Inside the U.S.-China Tech War

June 20, 2023  |  11:00am ET
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Over the last few years, the United States has moved to limit China’s technological rise. U.S.-led sanctions have imposed unprecedented limits on Beijing’s access to advanced computing c...Show morehips. In response, China has accelerated its own efforts to develop its technological industry and reduce its dependence on external imports.  According to Dan Wang, a technology expert and visiting scholar at Yale Law School’s Paul Tsai China Center, China’s tech competitiveness is grounded in manufacturing capabilities. And sometimes China’s strategy beats America’s.  Where is this new tech war headed? How are other countries being impacted as a result? In what ways are they reassessing their relationships with the world’s largest economic superpowers? Join FP’s Ravi Agrawal in conversation with Wang for a discussion about China’s technological rise and whether U.S. actions can really stop it. 

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 24: U.S. President Joe Biden (R) and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi participate in a bilateral meeting in the Oval Office of the White House on September 24, 2021 in Washington, DC. President Biden is hosting a Quad Leaders Summit later today with Prime Minister Modi, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide. (Photo by Sarahbeth Maney-Pool/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 24: U.S. President Joe Biden (R) and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi participate in a bilateral meeting in the Oval Office of the White House on September 24, 2021 in Washington, DC. President Biden is hosting a Quad Leaders Summit later today with Prime Minister Modi, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide. (Photo by Sarahbeth Maney-Pool/Getty Images)

Is America Making a Bad Bet on India?

June 21, 2023  |  12:00pm ET
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For decades, the U.S. foreign-policy establishment has made the assumption that India could serve as a partner as the United States jostles with China for power in the Indo-Pacific region. B...Show moreut Ashley J. Tellis, a longtime watcher of U.S.-India relations, says that Washington’s expectations of New Delhi are misplaced.  In a widely read Foreign Affairs essay, Tellis makes the case that the White House should recalibrate its expectations of India. Is Tellis right?  Send in your questions for an in-depth discussion with Tellis and FP Live host Ravi Agrawal ahead of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the White House on June 22.  

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