China, Japan, and South Korea Meet for Historic Trilateral Talks
Jaxon Carey
Staff Writer
On March 22, Japan, China, and South Korea met in Tokyo for what Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya is calling a “turning point in history.” According to Reuters, top diplomats from all three countries met to find common ground on security and East Asia and on economic issues. At this meeting, the foreign ministers of each country discussed trilateral cooperation on disasters, aging, the green economy, and declining birth rates writes The Associated Press.
The backdrop of this meeting comes as President Trump has shaken the diplomatic world across the board. Bloomberg reports that many U.S. allies are “at a loss” regarding what to do with the current United States foreign policy shift. The shift towards tariff wars on longtime allies, skepticism towards established international institutions, and less commitment towards previous U.S. treaties and obligations, has upended the previous perception of cooperation and faith in the U.S. John Major, former prime minister of the United Kingdom, reports The Guardian, told BBC News that there is a likely potential for China to replace the spot the U.S. previously held on the world stage. He warns that the U.S. might regret “ceding global leadership.”
This meeting by China, Japan, and South Korea highlights this movement by China to replace the U.S. even amongst traditional U.S. allies. Al Jazeera writes that this trilateral meeting on strengthening ties is important for two reasons. Firstly, it comes amid President Trump’s shaking of traditional allies. Secondly, and arguably more impressively, it is an accomplishment for the three nations to grow closer and overcome their contentious history.
Japan has territorial and historical disputes with both China and South Korea, dating back to before and after the second world war. South Korea has disputes with China over the militarization and nuclearization of North Korea. Yet, despite these differences and disputes, the three nations came together with talks of increased cooperation and “build[ing] confidence between these three countries,” according to Al Jazeera’s Fadi Salameh.
Even more important was the discussion the three nations had regarding North Korea. Kyodo News reports that Wang Yi, representing China, expressed hope for a solution on the Korean Peninsula to achieve long-term peace in Asia. Cho Tae Yul, representing South Korea, told reporters that the three nations should focus work on the denuclearization of North Korea.
France 24 elaborates upon other issues discussed, which includes cooperation on science and technology. In addition to this, the most noteworthy shake-up was the discussion surrounding trade. The Deccan Herald writes about discussions surrounding potentially removing the Chinese ban on imported Japanese seafood, while the South China Morning Post published that China pushed for free trade and stronger economic integration between the three.
The focus on trilateralism between the three nations, despite their contentious past, has the potential to shift economic power and diplomatic influence towards the region. The Japan Times quotes Iwaya as saying he, China, and Korea “had a frank exchange of views on trilateral cooperation and regional international affairs … and confirmed that we will promote future-orientated cooperation. The international situation has become increasingly severe.” This recognition and action from the three nations towards trilateralism will continue to evolve and shift the international scale, while holding the potential to unite the three countries and move them past their contentious and disputed history.
Image courtesy of Getty Images.
