Rivalry between the United States and China is reshaping the international order. In this September 5, 2025, talk, Ryo Sahashi, a professor of international relations at the University of Tokyo, shares his analysis of how Japan is navigating the shifting global landscape. Professor Sahashi says Japan has no real alternative to its all-important alliance with the United States, but at the same time it is reaching out to other middle powers in hopes of teaming up to preserve the “rules-based order” that more and more world leaders deride.