Christopher B. Johnstone is senior adviser and Japan Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). Prior to joining CSIS, Mr. Johnstone 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. He 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 (2014–2016). In the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Mr. Johnstone led offices with responsibility for South and Southeast Asia (2017–2021) and East Asia (2016–2017); he was director for Northeast Asia from 2010 to 2014, where he had principal responsibility for developing strategy for the U.S.-Japan alliance. Mr. Johnstone began his career as an intelligence officer in the Central Intelligence Agency, where he worked on national security issues in Northeast Asia and served in an overseas field station. Mr. Johnstone has a master's in public affairs from Princeton University's School of Public and International Affairs and a bachelor of arts from Swarthmore College. He speaks fluent Japanese.
In the News
Getting U.S.-Japanese Command and Control Right
Christopher B. Johnstone in War on the Rocks — June 28, 2023
At G7, Japan quietly strengthens alliances
Christopher B. Johnstone and Nicholas Szechenyi in Deutsche Welle — May 20, 2023
Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks to Arab League in Saudi Arabia en route to G7
Christopher B. Johnstone in Financial Times — May 19, 2023
詳しく】アメリカ バイデン大統領 G7で広島へ 狙いは?
Christopher B. Johnstone in NHK World-Japan — May 17, 2023
The Rising Tide of Japan-South Korea Relations
Christopher B. Johnstone in LAWFARE — May 12, 2023
G-7 summit to shine light on Indo-Pacific: former Biden adviser
Christopher B. Johnstone in Nikkei Asia — May 4, 2023
Japan and China top-level visits to Russia and Ukraine show global re-alignments | DW News
Christopher B. Johnstone in DW News — March 21, 2023
South Korea-Japan ready to open new page amid North Korean threat
Christopher B. Johnstone in Antara — March 17, 2023
All Christopher B. Johnstone Content
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Assessing the Hiroshima Summit: A Conversation with Keiichi Ono
Event by Christopher B. Johnstone and Stephanie Segal — July 7, 2023
Thirteenth Annual South China Sea Conference
Event by Gregory B. Poling , Christopher B. Johnstone , Jude Blanchette , Charles Edel , James Carouso , Harrison Prétat , Lily McElwee , Rep. Jennifer Kiggans (R-VA) , and Daniel J. Kritenbrink — June 28, 2023
Promoting Semiconductor “Friendshoring”: The Role of Indo-Pacific Allies and Partners in Supply Chain Resilience
Event by Gregory C. Allen , Emily Benson , Victor Cha , Christopher B. Johnstone , and Mark Lippert — June 27, 2023
CSDS-CSIS Transatlantic Dialogue on the Indo-Pacific
Event by Christopher B. Johnstone , Luis Simón , and Gunnar Wiegand , Kurt Campbell , Michael Reiterer , Matthew P. Goodman , Shihoko Goto , Ramon Pacheco Pardo , Emily Benson , Eva Pejsova , Céline Pajon , Yuki Tatsumi , Jeffrey Hornung — June 7, 2023
The U.S. Role in Indo-Pacific Security: A Conversation with Ely Ratner and Siddharth Mohandas
Event by Christopher B. Johnstone and Ellen Kim — May 25, 2023
Hand-Off: The Evolution of U.S. Policy in Asia
Event by Stephen Hadley , David Sanger , Victor Cha , Christopher B. Johnstone , Bonny Lin , Dennis Wilder , and Nicholas Szechenyi — May 23, 2023
G7 Hiroshima Summit Outcomes
Critical Questions by Hannah Grothusen , Matthew P. Goodman , Christopher B. Johnstone , and Federico Steinberg — May 23, 2023
Press Briefing: Previewing G7 Leaders’ Summit in Hiroshima
Event by Matthew P. Goodman , Christopher B. Johnstone , Maria Snegovaya , and Gregory C. Allen — May 9, 2023
Strengthening Deterrence: Parliamentary Perspectives on Japan’s Defense Strategy
Event by Christopher B. Johnstone , John J. Hamre , Onodera Itsunori , Otsuka Taku , and Kokuba Konosuke — May 3, 2023
Strategic Japan 2023: Japan's Realism Diplomacy
Event by Christopher B. Johnstone , Akiyama Nobumasa , Michishita Narushige , Murata Koji , and Shiga Hiroaki — March 29, 2023