ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – Former Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa is in Anchorage for a discussion on Japan’s growing role in the Arctic on April 30, according to the Alaska World Affairs Council.
According to the Arctic Institute, 90% of digital traffic between Asia and Europe runs through a single corridor near the Suez Canal — a route experts say is increasingly at risk. The Arctic Institute says a trans-Arctic cable would diversify the global network and reduce its vulnerability to disruption.
“Japan is an observer in the Arctic Council and so they are pursuing a cable across the Arctic with the EU and a number of security concerns,” said Nadia Heffernan, Program & Events Manager at the Alaska World Affairs Council.
The EU and Japan have formal agreements to develop Arctic cable infrastructure, but the Arctic Institute reports that several projects have been proposed over the past 25 years and none have come to fruition. They say costs, technical hurdles, and competing interests have stalled progress — including one project linking Japan and Europe through the Northwest Passage.
The Arctic Institute also notes that recent cable breaks in Quintillion’s Alaskan system have reminded investors of the technical challenges involved in Arctic cable projects.
The Japan Connection
The Arctic Institute reports Japan has been consistently envisioned as the preferred East Asian landing point for trans-Arctic cables since the early 2000s.
“Japan is a partner of Alaska’s in many, many trade and travel and community aspects,” Heffernan said. “And so, we just try to build on those and let people learn in a nonpartisan way what’s happening in the world and ways that they can stay informed and, if they want, be involved.”
Event Details
The Alaska World Affairs Council and Commonwealth North are hosting Kamikawa April 30 at Williwaw Social from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. The event is open to the public, with a few seats remaining.
“We try to bring the world to Alaska, opening people’s eyes and giving an idea of what is happening,” Heffernan said.
Tokyo has yet to announce any financial commitment to the trans-Arctic cable initiatives, according to the Arctic Institute.
The Alaska World Affairs Council typically holds two in-person events per month. More information on upcoming events can be found at here.
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