Wherever I am, the world comes after me.
It offers me its busyness. It does not believe that I do not want it.
Now I understand 
why the old poets of China went so far
and high 
into the mountains, then crept into the pale mist.
"The Old Poets of China" by Mary Oliver

The UP Asian Center will be hosting a webinar via Zoom, “Allies and Enemies: The Russian Invasion of Ukrain and its Impact on Asia and the Pacific” on 11 April 2022, 9:00 am to 12:00 pm (Philippine Standard Time, GMT+8). The webinar is free and open to the public, but registration and signing in to a (free) Zoom account are required.

ABSTRACT

More than a month has passed since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The ongoing war has led to thousands of civilian casualties, violence against women, widespread destruction, and a deepening humanitarian crisis. In consequence, millions have fled the country in search of refuge. As such, the international community, including the UN General Assembly, has denounced Russia’s aggression and expressed support for the embattled country; many states have kept their borders open for fleeing Ukrainians.
This escalation presents a myriad of implications in the contemporary international system. The invasion challenges the rules-based international order and signals the re-emergence of Cold War-era geopolitical competition among the major powers. Will this situation highlight the importance of alignments and security alliances and partnerships in the changing global geopolitical landscape?
Simultaneously, the Asia-Pacific region has just begun recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. How will the Russia-Ukraine crisis impact the countries' recovery? Because of existing relations with major powers, political, economic, and security environments in the region may be significantly affected. China and Russia’s recently cemented “limitless” friendship no doubt complicates the dynamics of the regional security environment. On the ground, the effects of the Russia-Ukraine crisis seem to be apparent in trade, energy, and rising prices of commodities. 
In this regard, this webinar seeks to analyze the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine and deepen the discussion on its impact on the Asia Pacific region. Specifically, it aims to discuss key questions surrounding the current situation between Ukraine and Russia and to identify and examine the geopolitical, security, and economic implications for Asia and the Pacific. In fulfillment of the Asian Center’s vision to help promote Asian society awareness, this activity seeks to understand the emerging events and trends in Asia and to stimulate exchanges and conversations that transcend conventional disciplinary and regional boundaries.

PRESENTATIONS & SPEAKERS

    • Implications of the Ongoing Developments in Ukraine for Asia-Pacific Security
                Gleb V. Toropchin, PhD
                Associate Professor, Novosibirsk State Technical University
    • Russia's War on Ukraine: The Backstory
              Sonia Mycak, PhD, Ukrainian Studies Foundation in Australia Research Fellow, Australian National University

REACTORS

    • Chester Cabalza, PhD
                President and Founder, International Development and Security Cooperation (IDSC)
    • Richard Javad Heydarian
                Academic and Columnist

    VIEW: PROGRAMREGISTRATION GUIDE AND HOUSE RULES

For inquiries, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The UP Asian Center offers M.A. degrees in Asian Studies with four fields of specialization: Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, and West Asia. The Center also has an M.A. program in Philippine Studies that allows students to major in Philippine society and culture, Philippine foreign relations, or Philippine development studies. The Center offers a Ph.D.  program in Philippine Studies in conjunction with the College of Arts and Letters and the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy. For an overview of these graduate programs, click here. The Asian Center also publishes Asian Studies: Journal of Critical Perspectives on Asia, the latest issue of which can be downloaded at the journal's website. For other news and upcoming events at the Asian Center, click here.