Restart of China-Japan-South Korea talks is in the interests of all
- The countries held first talks in four years, taking a step to revive strained ties with discussion of economy, trade, regional security
Dialogue is important to China’s relations with Japan and South Korea, given they are regional economic partners but also military allies of the United States.
But the recent trilateral talks between their leaders in Seoul were the first for four years, largely because of the pandemic and strained ties between the three neighbours.
The meetings between Premier Li Qiang, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and President Yoon Suk-yeol were a chance for Tokyo and Seoul to repair economic cooperation with their biggest trading partner.
The talks were held against the divisive background of heightened tensions between China and the US and a provocative inauguration speech recently by the new leader of Taiwan, William Lai Ching-te, that exacerbated cross-Strait tensions.
Expectations of the three leaders’ meeting therefore tended to focus on attempts to find common ground. In a reflection of China-US trade tensions, as Washington tightens hi-tech export rules, the three leaders pledged to boost cooperation to keep global supply chains stable.
In addition to the economy and trade, they also discussed people-to-people exchanges, public health, and regional peace and stability. In a joint statement, they reaffirmed commitment to keeping markets open and boosting supply chain cooperation.