Washington, D.C.; Taipei, Taiwan; Tokyo, Japan | June 20 — The Asia Group (TAG) is thrilled to announce the launch of a new office in Taipei and the appointment of Lieutenant General (Ret.) Koichi Isobe and Ambassador Yasuhiko Yoshida as Senior Advisors for Japanese defense and economic policy, respectively. The Asia Group’s strategic growth in Taiwan and Japan reflects the important role of both economies in regional supply chains and underscores TAG’s dedication to securing premier talent essential for the success of businesses navigating the complex political landscapes of Asia.
“Japan and Taiwan are pivotal in addressing rapidly evolving defense priorities and rising supply chain pressures across the Indo-Pacific,” said TAG Managing Partner Ambassador Kurt Tong. “The Asia Group is committed to Taiwan and Japan’s economic development as well as supporting Taiwanese and Japanese corporates to explore expansion opportunities in South and Southeast Asia.”
The Asia Group’s Taiwan practice provides foreign corporates with guidance on local policy dynamics and engagement strategies to seize opportunities associated with Taipei’s growing leadership role in global semiconductor manufacturing, electronics supply chains, and emerging industries, such as artificial intelligence and life sciences. TAG’s Taiwan practice also works closely with leading Taiwanese conglomerates to evaluate and execute expansions in key South and Southeast Asian economies, including India, Vietnam, and Thailand.
Catherine Chiu joins TAG’s Taiwan practice as a Taipei-based Senior Associate, working closely with Managing Director for Taiwan & Hong Kong and Co-Chair for Digital Practice George Chen. Catherine brings a wealth of experience on Taiwan’s political landscape from working as the Confidential Secretary for former Speaker You Si-kun of Legislative Yuan, Taiwan’s parliament.
The Asia Group’s Japan practice, co-led by Amb. Kurt Tong and Japan Country Director Tokuko Shironitta, assists the world’s leading corporations in accessing the Japan market and navigating regulatory and political challenges, including in the defense, digital, advanced technology, life sciences, and financial sectors. TAG helps firms understand and devise strategies that resonate with Tokyo’s domestic and international policy objectives, including defense collaboration with the United States and regional partners such as Australia, and policy cooperation in the Quad and with South Korea. TAG also supports Japan’s leading technology companies and trading houses in navigating global policy challenges, evaluating market entry strategies, and handling market access issues across the Indo-Pacific region.
Lieutenant General (Ret.) Koichi Isobe joins The Asia Group as a Senior Advisor for Defense. With a 35-year tenure in the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force and a current role as a Director of the Japan Association for International Security, LTG (Ret.) Isobe offers an authoritative perspective on Japan’s defense landscape, including procurement and the nexus of defense and foreign policy priorities. Ambassador Yasuhiko Yoshida joins The Asia Group as a Senior Advisor for Economic Policy, drawing on over 37 years of experience in trade and industrial policy, primarily with the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI). Amb. Yoshida offers his extensive expertise on issues including Indo-Pacific energy policy, digital policy development, and semiconductor and other supply chain related issues, as well as Japan-India economic and business relations.
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.