"Han-Jung-Il, Coordination for Next Month's Seoul Meeting on High-Level Diplomatic Consultations"

Mainichi Shimbun Reports "Consultations on Holding Trilateral Summit"

Amid worsening tensions between China and Japan over the discharge of contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in Japan, reports have emerged that the foreign ministries of South Korea, China, and Japan are coordinating consultations related to a trilateral summit.

On the 30th, Mainichi Shimbun reported that "South Korea, China, and Japan are adjusting the schedule to hold a high-level consultation in Seoul in late September" and that "discussions are underway regarding the holding of the South Korea-China-Japan summit." This consultation is expected to be held at the vice-ministerial level.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno held a press conference at the Prime Minister's residence that morning, stating, "It is meaningful for the three leaders to gather in one place to discuss the direction of trilateral cooperation and regional issues," and added, "We will reaffirm the examination at the secretariat level."

He also said, "Regarding the summit, the South Korean ambassador to the United States, representing the chair country this year, is coordinating to hold it within the year."

The South Korea-China-Japan summit began in December 2008 when then-President Lee Myung-bak of South Korea, Premier Wen Jiabao of China, and Prime Minister Tar? As? of Japan met in Fukuoka, Japan, and has been held a total of eight times to date.

Following the rule that the chair country hosts the summit once a year on its own soil, discussions have been held on North Korea response and economic cooperation, but the summit has not been held since the last meeting in Chengdu, China, in December 2019.

However, Mainichi also reported that China’s opposition to Japan’s discharge of contaminated water into the ocean may cause difficulties in coordination.

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