Indicators from Japanese and South Korean shipyards show that major industrial powers in the region are restructuring their economies to balance risks and trade. For Japan, South Korea, and the United States, the question is whether new investments in productive capacity, starting with shipbuilding, can help establish a more flexible global supply chain. Following the recent Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, which set the tone for competition between Washington and Beijing, South Korea finds itself hosting the most anticipated diplomatic gathering in years. This question lies at the heart of the agenda for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum.
