China may try to ‘play active role’ in defusing tensions between Japan and South Korea
- Foreign ministers from the three countries will meet in Beijing next week amid strained ties between Seoul and Tokyo
- They are expected to map out a planned leaders’ summit later this year
Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono is expected to arrive in the Chinese capital on Tuesday for the ninth meeting of top diplomats from China, Japan and South Korea, the Japanese foreign ministry said in a statement on Friday.
South Korea’s foreign ministry also confirmed that its minister, Kang Kyung-wha, would travel to Beijing for the talks.
Wang, Kono and Kang are expected to meet on the outskirts of the city to map out a planned summit of leaders from the three neighbouring countries to be held later this year.
Japan’s foreign ministry said Kono was also expected to hold separate meetings with Wang and Kang on the sidelines of their trilateral meeting.
The talks – the first between foreign ministers of the three countries since 2016 – come amid a flare-up of tensions between Seoul and Tokyo, prompted by a dispute over Japan’s colonial legacy.