Breathless Diplomatic Battle on the Korean Peninsula... 'Korea-US, US-Japan, US-China' Diplomatic Fronts Unfold

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Starting next week, a major diplomatic front involving South Korea, the U.S., Japan, and China will unfold around the Korean Peninsula. While the U.S. emphasizes trilateral cooperation among South Korea, the U.S., and Japan to contain China, it is also likely to request South Korea to join in efforts to counter China, putting South Korea's diplomatic capabilities to the test once again.

One of the key topics that U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is expected to raise during his visit to South Korea on the 17th and 18th is likely to be "participation in containing China." Earlier, on the 10th (local time), the U.S. State Department announced that Secretary Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will visit Japan on the 15th and South Korea on the 17th and 18th. After his visit to South Korea, Secretary Blinken will also hold a high-level meeting with China on the 18th. The U.S. is conducting a series of meetings that encompass Japan, South Korea, and China in one sequence.

During their visit to South Korea, Secretaries Blinken and Austin will hold bilateral talks with Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong and Defense Minister Suh Wook, respectively, followed by a joint U.S.-South Korea Foreign and Defense (2+2) meeting. This is the first U.S.-South Korea 2+2 meeting in five years since October 2016, and the first under the Moon Jae-in administration. The Blue House emphasized the significance, stating, "It is unprecedented for the first overseas visit to be to South Korea."

Both sides are expected to engage in in-depth discussions on U.S.-South Korea relations, North Korean nuclear issues, and the transfer of wartime operational control, among other Korean Peninsula policies. They are also likely to emphasize trilateral cooperation among South Korea, the U.S., and Japan to contain China. The U.S. is pursuing "pressure on China through alliances," and at the upcoming Quad summit on the 12th, which includes the U.S., Japan, Australia, and India, strategies to counter China are expected to be discussed. The U.S. side is likely to share information related to the Quad during the 2+2 meeting and may also request South Korea to join the pressure front.

However, unlike Japan, India, and Australia, which participate in the Quad, South Korea, being geographically close to China, finds it difficult to respond easily. Experts point out that it is necessary to observe the situation rather than accept this immediately. Professor Hwang Jae-ho of Hankuk University of Foreign Studies said, "Since the Quad has not yet taken a concrete form like NATO, it is more beneficial to stay outside rather than rush into the Quad at this time."

On the 18th, Secretary Blinken will move to Alaska to meet Yang Jiechi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Chinese Communist Party responsible for foreign affairs, and Wang Yi, China's State Councilor and Foreign Minister. This meeting will be the first U.S.-China summit since President Biden took office, and attention is focused on whether the two countries can find ways to cooperate on global issues such as climate change and COVID-19 despite their confrontational stance.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.