China, Japan, and South Korea recently held a high-profile regional summit, which was somewhat eclipsed by the looming influence and policies of the United States. The trilateral meeting aimed to address a range of pressing topics, including trade relations, regional security issues such as North Korea’s nuclear program, and measures to enhance cooperation in response to the global pandemic and climate change.
However, discussions were heavily influenced by the individual relationships each country holds with the U.S. China’s strained relations due to trade wars and disagreements over human rights and Hong Kong’s autonomy have caused ripples in the region. Meanwhile, Japan and South Korea grapple with their own need for security backing from the U.S. against potential regional threats while endeavoring to forge stronger economic ties with China.
This summit highlighted a complex interplay of regional dynamics where each country finds itself balancing its national interests with the strategic calculations related to the engagement with the U.S. In particular, Japan’s attempts to act as a mediator in Sino-American disputes and South Korea’s cautious approach towards its alliance with the U.S. versus its relationship with China showed just how significant American influence is in East Asian geopolitical strategies.
The leaders of China, Japan, and South made commitments towards increasing cooperation on various fronts but remained aware that their respective strategies towards the U.S. would continue to shape their regional policies moving forward. This summit served as a poignant reminder that even as these nations strive for a cohesive regional policy, external powers such as the United States continue to overshadow their collective endeavors.
