„New Alliances in East Asia?“ – DW documentary now on Youtube
This was not an easy documentary to prepare in my role as a line producer, but it was a very rewarding one. It was the also first time I obtained permission to film and witness military exercises. Thanks to the cooperation of the Ministry of Defense and local military personnel, we captured incredible footage – not only of the exercise we were assigned to film, but also of an additional one to which our team – director Michael Mueller, cameraman Francisco Lopez and myself – had exclusive access. However, what made this project most memorable, were the relationships forged:
A big Thank You to all our interview partners & to everybody involved for their kind cooperation!
Synopsis:
The political situation in East Asia is changing rapidly. Former wartime enemies Japan and South Korea are moving closer together and seeking to close ranks with Taiwan. The three countries are arming themselves on a massive scale. While the world is looking at Ukraine, the Middle East and the USA’s customs and trade policies, the political situation in East Asia is changing rapidly and fundamentally under pressure from China.
Is an alliance emerging in the world’s most dangerous and economically important region, with Japan, South Korea and Taiwan standing alongside the USA against China? Can peace in the region be secured through mutual deterrence? Or will developments turn East Asia into a powder keg that could explode at any time? How reliable is the USA as a partner under a President Trump? And what impact would an escalation of the Taiwan conflict or the conflict between North and South Korea have on peace and prosperity in the rest of the world?
This documentary explores these questions, traveling to military and economic hotspots in Japan and South Korea. The film examines the increasing military cooperation between the US and its allies in the region, the importance of East Asia for world trade and the difficult rapprochement between Taiwan, Japan and South Korea, which share a long and conflict-ridden history.
Featuring interviews with military, economic and security experts, this documentary features visits to Japanese and US bases, a joint maneuver and encounters with people living on Japan’s southern islands and in South Korea. It provides an exclusive insight into a region whose security and stability is of global importance.
Watch the documentary in English here:
Director: Michael Mueller
Producer: Nick Golüke, CEO NGLOW FILM
Director: Michael Mueller
Production: Silke Breidenbach, NGLOW FILM
Camera: Francisco Lopez / Anton Scholz
Sound: Daniel Lee
Editing: Johannes Hiroshi Nakajima
Line Producer: Anton Scholz (South Korea), Sonja Blaschke (Japan)
Sound Mixing: Holger Jung
Colour Correction: Nick Coleman
Motion Design: Sebastian Reeh