China, Japan, and South Korea Pave the Way for Cooperation

• 28 Nov 2023

On 26^th Nov, China, Japan, and South Korea have reached an agreement to restart cooperation, marking a significant step towards easing tensions among the Asian neighbours.

• The move comes amid efforts to mend ties between China and the United States, with concerns in Beijing about the strengthening three-way partnership between Washington and its key regional allies.

Key Points

• Resumption of Diplomatic Ties: Foreign ministers from China, Japan, and South Korea held their first meeting since 2019 in the South Korean port of Busan, reviving efforts to strengthen diplomatic and economic exchanges.
• Disrupted Plans: Annual summits between the three nations, initiated in 2008, were interrupted by two-way disputes and the COVID-19 pandemic, with the last meeting occurring in 2019.
• Comprehensive Cooperation: During the 100-minute talks, the ministers agreed to advance collaboration in six areas, including security, economy, and technology, aiming to foster concrete discussions in preparation for the trilateral summit.
• Institutionalizing Cooperation: South Korean Foreign Minister emphasized the importance of institutionalizing trilateral cooperation for stability and sustainability, especially considering the complex regional dynamics.
• Trilateral Free Trade Agreement: China foreign minister called for the restart of negotiations on a trilateral free trade agreement among the three nations, emphasizing the need for economic collaboration.
• North Korean Issues: South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin expressed concerns about North Korea's recent launch of a spy satellite and sought increased responses to arms deals between Pyongyang and Moscow.