The Chinese and Japanese Prime Ministers arrive in Seoul this Sunday, May 26 for the first tripartite summit between senior dignitaries since 2019. Much has changed since the last edition: growing tensions over North Korea and Taiwan, but also tensions between the three powers regional.
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The resumption of dialogue between Seoul, Tokyo and Beijing focuses on possible cooperation, avoiding almost all angry subjects, reports our correspondent in Seoul, Nicolas Rocca. While two days of military exercises by the Beijing army around Taiwan have just ended, and that North Korea has further strengthened itself militarilydefense themes are not currently on the agenda for discussions.
The agenda for Monday’s summit instead includes discussions on sustainable development, the economy, trade and others. This between Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang, his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida and South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol.
From the last trilateral meeting between heads of executive in 2019, the atmosphere has clearly evolved. Much to Beijing’s dismay, the Camp David declaration in the summer of 2023 marked the beginning of increased cooperation between the United States and its allies South Korea and Japan.
The Sino-American rivalry has degraded economic exchanges between the three regional powers, particularly in the ultra-sensitive semiconductor sector: Washington pushed Tokyo and especially Seoul to reduce their dependence on China in the field. Seoul this week announced a nearly $19 billion plan for Korea’s semiconductor industry.
Mutual reproaches
As a side effect of diplomatic tensions between the three countries, Chinese investments in Japan and South Korea have seriously declined in recent years. Beijing rightly criticizes its regional neighbors for their increasingly strong alliance with the United States. On the other hand, Seoul and Tokyo could inform Prime Minister Li Qiang of the increasing difficulties encountered by their companies in investing and working in China.
Beyond declarations of intent, tourism is one of the rare consensual issues that should be addressed at the summit. With a possible agreement on the resumption of visa-free travel between China and Japan.
Before Monday’s trilateral summit, the South Korean president will hold separate meetings with the prime ministers of the two countries on Sunday.
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