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Washington, DC | The Asia Group (TAG) is pleased to announce that Chris Johnstone has joined TAG as a full-time Managing Principal. Chris will assume a leadership role in TAG’s Defense & National Security Practice, elevate TAG’s capabilities regarding economic security, and truly enhance TAG’s Japan Practice based on his profound Japanese expertise.

“Chris is the rare individual who has spent his career focused on Indo-Pacific strategy, security, and defense, shaping the region across multiple U.S. administrations,” said Rexon Ryu, TAG President and Chair of the Defense & National Security Practice. “Bringing Chris on board reflects TAG’s ever-expanding capabilities to realize the tremendous opportunities for industries associated with the U.S.-Japan alliance, AUKUS, and the growing prominence of trilateral and multilateral partnerships across the region. His expertise offers an unparalleled opportunity for clients looking to understand and re-imagine opportunities in the Indo-Pacific.”

Chris is a leading national security strategist with over 25 years of government experience focused on U.S. policy toward Japan and the Indo-Pacific. Fluent in the Japanese language, Chris has an unparalleled understanding of the U.S.-Japan relationship and the Japanese political landscape, drawing on extensive experience working in Japan and shaping the U.S. approach to the alliance. Most recently, he was Senior Advisor and Japan Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). Previously, Chris served twice on the National Security Council, as Director for East Asia under President Biden and Director for Japan and Oceanian Affairs under President Obama. In the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Chris led offices with responsibility for South and Southeast Asia and East Asia. While at the Pentagon, Chris also served as Director for Northeast Asia, where he had principal responsibility for developing strategy for the U.S.-Japan and U.S.-South Korea alliances.

Led by President Rexon Ryu, TAG’s Defense & National Security Practice offers clients cutting-edge analysis of region-wide developments, insights into market opportunities and regulatory challenges, and actionable solutions to enable business success. TAG’s services leverage regional offices in New Delhi, Tokyo, Hanoi, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Taipei, Mumbai, and Bangkok, and an extensive presence across the Indo-Pacific region, offering unmatched value for emerging and advanced technology companies.

The Asia Group is the premier partner to the world’s leading companies seeking to excel across the Indo-Pacific. With a multidisciplinary team of dynamic professionals across the region, The Asia Group enables companies to unlock value and mitigate risk at the intersection of public policy and corporate strategy.