Christopher B. Johnstone

Senior Adviser and Japan Chair
Christopher B. Johnstone

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.

Programs & Projects

Areas of Expertise

In the News

All content by Christopher B. Johnstone

Filter by

1 - 10 of 39 results

CSDS-CSIS Transatlantic Dialogue on the Indo-Pacific

CSIS and the Centre for Security, Diplomacy, and Strategy (CSDS) of the Vrije Universiteit Brussels School of Governance co-organized the annual Transatlantic Dialogue on the Indo-Pacific to provide new perspectives on the ongoing debates on transatlantic cooperation on the Indo-Pacific region.

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

Hand-Off: The Evolution of U.S. Policy in Asia

Reflections on the Bush-Obama Transition with Former National Security Advisor Stephen J. Hadley and Expert Perspectives on U.S. Strategy in the Region Today.

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

The CSIS Economics Program and Japan Chair examine the commitments and statements made at the 2023 G7 Leaders' Summit in Hiroshima Japan.

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

The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) hosted a call-in press briefing to preview the G7 Leaders’ Summit in Hiroshima, Japan on May 19-21.

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

With the revision of three key security documents in December 2022, Japan is charting a new course in its national defense strategy. Join the CSIS Japan Chair for a conversation with legislative leaders from Japan who will discuss the road ahead.

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

Please join the CSIS Japan Chair for a conversation, as part of the Strategic Japan initiative, with four Japanese scholars on regional and global challenges and Japan's diplomatic agenda going forward.

Event by Christopher B. Johnstone , Akiyama Nobumasa , Michishita Narushige , Murata Koji , and Shiga Hiroaki — March 29, 2023

Exploring New Horizons: Japan's Defense Priorities

The Japan Chair welcomes eight leading scholars from Japan and the United States to analyze key shifts in Japan’s defense strategy following the revision of three key national security documents in December 2022. Please join us for a discussion on their findings. 

Event by Christopher B. Johnstone , Nicholas Szechenyi , Lisa Curtis , Takako Hikotani , Lieutenant General (Ret.) Koichi Isobe , Heino Klinck , RADM (Ret.) Mark Montgomery , Saadia Pekkanen , Kazuto Suzuki , and Hideshi Tokuchi — March 23, 2023

2023 U.S.-Japan Security Seminar

Please join experts from CSIS and the Japan Institute of International Affairs for the annual U.S.-Japan Security Seminar.

Event by Christopher B. Johnstone — March 21, 2023

Japan’s Prime Minister Visits Ukraine

Prime Minister Kishida Fumio of Japan made a surprise visit to Kyiv on March 21 in a show of support for Ukraine. The CSIS Japan Chair outlines his objectives for the visit and its strategic importance in signaling Japan’s commitment to defend the global order. 

Critical Questions by Christopher B. Johnstone and Nicholas Szechenyi — March 21, 2023