East Asia Stability: Korea, China, and Japan Foreign Ministers Express Only Fundamental Positions

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo In-ho] Amid escalating US-China tensions over Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the US House of Representatives, visiting Taiwan, the foreign ministers of South Korea, China, and Japan reaffirmed the importance of East Asian community cooperation.

However, there is analysis that differing interpretations of the US-China conflict led to only a general statement on regional stability.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the 4th, Foreign Minister Park Jin attended the ASEAN+3 (South Korea, China, Japan) Foreign Ministers' Meeting held at Sokha Hotel in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, that morning.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Although the ASEAN+3 meeting is an event held together with ASEAN countries, major issues such as Taiwan and North Korea attracted attention as the foreign ministers of South Korea, China, and Japan gathered in one place for the first time in three years.

Wang Yi, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister in charge of diplomacy, reportedly emphasized the importance of East Asian community cooperation for regional stability at this meeting. He indirectly pointed out that the cause of regional instability revealed by Pelosi’s Taiwan visit on the 3rd lies with ‘extraregional’ countries and hinted at sending a message to key East Asian countries, South Korea and Japan, for stability in the Taiwan Strait.

In response, Minister Park reportedly only expressed a general position emphasizing the importance of regional stability and peace. Earlier, as he departed for Phnom Penh the day before, Minister Park stated, "Various agenda items will be raised at this meeting, and I will carefully listen to the opinions of related countries and explain our position."

Accordingly, diplomatic circles expect that the South Korean government will seek a diplomatic balance between the sharply conflicting United States and China through this meeting of the foreign ministers of South Korea, China, and Japan.

The upcoming South Korea-China foreign ministers’ meeting scheduled in China later this month is expected to serve as a momentum for bilateral relations. It is highly likely that key issues such as the Korea high-altitude missile defense system (THAAD) and semiconductor supply chain matters will be discussed at the South Korea-China meeting.

Meanwhile, separate from the ASEAN+3 meeting, the government is reportedly planning a separate meeting between Minister Park and Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa on the same day.

Also, Minister Park may encounter An Kwang-il, North Korea’s ambassador to the ASEAN delegation and ambassador to Indonesia, who will attend as a North Korean representative at the welcome dinner hosted by the chair country that evening.

Minister Park indicated the possibility of meeting Ambassador An, saying, "There is no separate plan to meet, but I expect there will be a natural opportunity to encounter during the meeting period."

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