Chris Johnstone is a senior advisor at The Asia Group and Japan Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). Prior to joining CSIS, he served in government for 25 years in a variety of senior positions with a focus on U.S. policy toward Japan and the Indo-Pacific region. He served twice on the National Security Council, as director for East Asia under President Joe Biden and director for Japan and Oceanian affairs under President Barack Obama. In the Office of the Secretary of Defense, he led offices with responsibility for South and Southeast Asia and East Asia. He began his career as an intelligence officer in the Central Intelligence Agency.
Podcasts
Chris Johnstone on Japan’s Growing Security Leadership
- Japan
Recent Posts
Daniel Kritenbrink on CNBC’s Squawk Box Asia talks China’s standing on world stage
April 6, 2026
Media Mentions
Daniel Kritenbrink of The Asia Group discusses how the U.S.’ war on Iran has impacted China’s confidence in its’ standing ...
Shailender Arya in Mint on U.S.-Iran war opening opportunities for Indian defense space
April 3, 2026
Media Mentions
“While companies building space-based surveillance platforms may see a fillip, the gains are unlikely to be uniform across all space ...
Front Row with Ahmed Helal: Gulf States Confront A Diversification Challenge
April 2, 2026
Commentary
How the Gulf states reconcile their enhanced dependence on the United States with the need to diversify their strategic options ...
Front Row with Nisha Biswal: What CERAWeek Revealed About the Global Energy System