ANALYSIS: China, Japan, South Korea Confront Regional Strains at Summit

(L-R) Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa, South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin, and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi arrive for the 10th trilateral foreign ministers' meeting in Busan on Nov. 26, 2023. Ahn Young-Joon/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

The Tenth Trilateral Foreign Ministers’ Meeting between China, Japan, and South Korea convened in Busan, South Korea, on Nov. 26. Current tensions in the Taiwan Strait, the Korean Peninsula, and the wider Asia-Pacific region brought into question the practical effect that can be achieved in this meeting.

Japan and South Korea, as well as the Western world, are aligned with the United States out of concern over the Chinese regime’s aggressive actions in the region.

All three countries at the meeting said that promoting practical trilateral cooperation is important for the peace and prosperity of the region and beyond.

In response to North Korea’s launch of a military spy satellite, Japan’s Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa pointed out that to achieve denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and fully implement a United Nations Security Council resolution, it is necessary to take firm countermeasures.

Although she did not mention China, the remark was undoubtedly directed at China since the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is a staunch ally of North Korea.

Ms. Kamikawa told reporters after the meeting, “As the international society is at a historic turning point as it faces major challenges and changes, we hope to discuss our strategic significance of Japan-China-South Korea cooperation.”

Speaking about North Korea’s launch of military spy satellites, South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin said that it threatens the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia, which is a common interest of the three countries and a necessary condition for peace and stability in the region.

He expressed hope that the three countries would hold in-depth discussions to solve the problem.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi also emphasized the need for the three countries to adhere to the common cause, face up to history, and work for mutual benefits in future cooperation.

Mr. Wang also said that China opposes “drawing ideological lines” in trilateral cooperation and resists “dividing regional cooperation into ideological camps”. It is widely believed that these remarks were directed at the U.S.-Japan-South Korea alliance.

As the host country of the trilateral meeting, the South Korean Foreign Ministry did not officially release information regarding the meeting until Nov. 24. This was due to the Chinese side failing to confirm whether its foreign minister would be attending until mid-Nov.

Furthermore, the dinner and joint press conference scheduled after the meeting were canceled at the last minute after the Chinese foreign minister refused to attend.

Challenges in Japan and China’s Cooperation 

There are many ongoing disputes between Japan and China, including territorial disputes over the Senkaku Islands, Japan’s release of treated radioactive water, China’s import ban on Japanese seafood products, and the arbitrary detention of Japanese citizens in China.

All those issues are of great concern to the Japanese public and private sectors. Ms. Kamikawa raised these issues during her meeting with Mr. Wang the day before the official trilateral meeting.

During the meeting, Mr. Wang referred to the treated radioactive water as “nuclear-contaminated water“ and said that Japan’s discharge of such “nuclear-contaminated water” into the ocean was an irresponsible act. The CCP expressed the need to set up an independent panel for supervision and investigation.

In this regard, Ms. Kamikawa pointed out that this is a matter of national sovereignty, and it is under the authority of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

This aerial picture shows storage tanks used for storing treated water at TEPCO's crippled Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in Okuma, Fukushima prefecture, on Aug. 24, 2023. STR/JIJI Press/AFP via Getty Images

On the Taiwan issue, Mr. Wang stressed that it is an internal matter of China and that no other country should be allowed to interfere. However, he also expressed willingness to re-establish a strategic relationship between China and Japan to strengthen cooperation and protect the stability of the supply chain.

South Korea, China’s Unresolved Differences

On Nov. 26, South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin urged China to play a “constructive role” in preventing North Korea’s deepening of military cooperation with Russia, its use of ballistic missile technology to launch satellites, and its development of nuclear weapons and warheads.

Mr. Park emphasized that it is in the common interest of South Korea and China for North Korea to stop its aggression and work toward denuclearization. Mr. Wang simply promised to continue to play a constructive role in easing tensions on the peninsula.

People watch a television screen showing a news broadcast with a picture of North Korea's latest satellite-carrying rocket launch at a railway station in Seoul on Nov. 22, 2023. Jung Yeon-Je/AFP via Getty Images

In addition, Mr. Park raised the issue of China’s forced repatriation of North Korean defectors and requested the CCP not to deport those who fled North Korea. In response, Mr. Wang repeatedly emphasized that the matter should be “handled appropriately in accordance with the laws of China.”

During the talks, South Korea did not get any concrete cooperation proposals from China on the North Korean issue.

Strengthening US Alliances

Japan and South Korea have complicated unresolved historical disputes such as the World War II comfort women, but due to joint efforts of President Yoon Suk Yeol of South Korea and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of Japan, relations between the two countries have improved significantly and are considered to be at their best.

Although there are differences between the two countries, both countries have demonstrated a broader view of the regional challenges and are working to face the challenges through cooperation.

The foreign ministers of the two countries agreed that North Korea’s launch of a military spy satellite using ballistic missile technology on Nov. 21 is a clear violation of the United Nations Security Council resolution. The United States, Japan, and South Korea condemned the act and affirmed their position to maintain close contact and monitor the situation.

In addition, the two foreign ministers agreed to explore the issue of the past kidnappings of Japanese nationals by North Korea, as well as cooperation in areas such as disaster prevention.

Over the past four years, the bilateral and trilateral relations between China, Japan, and South Korea have undergone tremendous changes. China’s bullying tactics and expansionist policies towards Taiwan and in the South China Sea have further strengthened Japan’s alliance with the United States and South Korea. South Korea also strengthened its alliance and cooperation with the United States and Japan to counter North Korea.

Despite historical disputes between Japan and South Korea, the two countries have set aside their grudges and joined hands with the United States in the face of their common enemy, the communist regimes of China and North Korea.