In a bid to counter rising international tensions, foreign ministers from Japan, China, and South Korea held crucial talks in Tokyo, focusing on trade, regional security, and denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
Foreign ministers from Japan, China, and South Korea met in Tokyo on Saturday to discuss cooperation on trade, regional security, and other issues. ‘The meeting comes amid the threat of trade tariffs by US President Donald Trump.’
The ongoing trade tensions between the United States and China have been a persistent issue since 2018.
The dispute centers around 'China's alleged unfair trade practices' including intellectual property theft and forced technology transfer.
In response, the US imposed tariffs on Chinese goods, which led to retaliatory measures from China.
According to the US Census Bureau, the total value of US-China trade in 2020 was over $737 billion.
The tensions have also affected global markets, with many countries caught in the middle.
The three foreign ministers — Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, and South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul — emphasized the importance of dialogue and cooperation in overcoming division and confrontation. They highlighted the need for strengthening East Asian cooperation to jointly resist risks and promote mutual understanding between their peoples.
The complex relationship between Japan, China, and South Korea is rooted in historical grievances.
World War II and the Japanese occupation of Korea and China have left lasting scars.
Territorial disputes, particularly over the 'Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands' , continue to fuel tensions.
Economic interdependence, however, has also created strong ties among the three nations.
Japan and South Korea have a significant trade relationship, while China's economic growth relies heavily on exports to both countries.
Denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula
The denuclearization of the Korean peninsula was a key topic on the agenda, with South Korea’s Cho Tae-yul urging that the military cooperation between ‘North Korea and Russia must stop.’ He also emphasized the importance of carrying out UN sanctions against Pyongyang, faithfully. Japan and South Korea are close allies with the US, while China is one of North Korea’s main international supporters.
Denuclearization refers to the process of eliminating nuclear weapons from a region.
The Korean Peninsula has been a focal point for denuclearization efforts due to North Korea's nuclear program.
In 2018, the Panmunjom Declaration outlined steps towards denuclearization, including North Korea's commitment to dismantle its nuclear facilities.
However, progress has been slow, and tensions remain high.
According to the 'Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)', North Korea possesses approximately 30-50 nuclear warheads.
Climate Change and Other Policy Areas
The diplomats were also due to address ‘climate change,’ aging populations, cooperation on natural disasters, and Russia’s war in Ukraine, among other policy areas. Bilateral talks will be held later on Saturday, including the first ‘high-level economic dialogue‘ between Japan and China in six years.
Planning for a Three-Way Leaders Summit
Although ‘China has been the worst affected by tariffs imposed by Trump since he returned to the White House in January,’ all three East Asian nations have felt the impact. The diplomats are hoping to be able to set a tripartite leaders’ summit by the end of 2025.
The meeting between the Asian powers comes amid rising international tensions driven by tariff threats from the US. The ministers are looking to lay the groundwork for a three-way summit later this year, which would bring the three countries’ leaders together.
