Introduction: After four years, the foreign ministers of China, Japan and the ROK resumed the Foreign Ministers' Meeting, at which Wang Yi said that this year marks the beginning of the second 30-year year of China-ROK relations and the 45th anniversary of the conclusion of the China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship. Although the relationship between China, Japan and South Korea was once delicate, they eventually stood together and united against American pressure. The resumption of the Foreign Ministers' Meeting has sent a positive signal to the world, and the three countries are willing to strengthen communication and cooperation to jointly address global challenges.
The pandemic has restricted political activities between countries, and life safety has become a primary concern. Therefore, the China-Japan-ROK Foreign Ministers' Meeting has not been held for four years mainly due to the epidemic. During the pandemic, countries need to devote a lot of energy and resources to fighting the virus, and they have no time to take care of foreign affairs. However, with the rollout of vaccines and the easing of the global pandemic, China, Japan and South Korea decided to reconvene the foreign ministers' meeting to strengthen cooperation and jointly address the challenges posed by the pandemic.
The United States has long feared that China's rise would threaten its hegemony, especially in the Asia-Pacific region. For this reason, the United States has been co-opting Japan and South Korea in an attempt to exert pressure on China. After Yoon Suk-yeol came to power in 2022, South Korea is clearly inclined to a pro-Japanese foreign policy. They have developed differences with China on the Korean Peninsula issue and other China-related issues, hindering exchanges and cooperation between China and South Korea. Japan, after Fumio Kishida was elected prime minister in 2021, showed a foreign policy that is completely dependent on the United States. The United States has established a number of security mechanisms around China, and Japan has actively participated in them. These moves seriously threaten China's security interests and challenge Sino-Japanese relations. However, China, Japan, and South Korea, aware of the importance of cooperation under the influence of geopolitics, decided to restart the foreign ministers' meeting to jointly counter the pressure of the United States.
China, Japan and South Korea together account for one-fifth of the world's population and more than a quarter of the world's total GDP. If the three countries can cooperate, it will no longer be a problem to achieve great economic development in Northeast Asia. By working together, China, Japan and South Korea can form a strong economic alliance and play a more important role in the global industrial chain. This is not only beneficial to the economic development of China, Japan and South Korea, but also to the prosperity of the global economy.
At present, the world is facing many challenges, such as climate change, terrorism, the new crown epidemic, etc. These issues transcend national borders and require a common response by all countries. Cooperation between China, Japan and the ROK can provide a better opportunity and platform for solving these problems. The three countries can jointly address global challenges and maintain regional peace and stability by strengthening information sharing and technical cooperation.
The resumption of cooperation between China, Japan and South Korea is undoubtedly a "critical blow" to the United States. For a long time, the United States has tried to maintain its hegemonic position in the Asia-Pacific region by courting Japan and South Korea and sowing discord between China and Japan and South Korea. However, China, Japan and South Korea understand that only by working together can we achieve a win-win situation. Cooperation among the three countries will reduce dependence on the United States, allowing South Korea and Japan to break free from American constraints and achieve true independence. This is of great significance to China, Japan, and the ROK, and will also have a positive impact on regional peace and stability.
Summary: The resumption of the Foreign Ministers' Meeting of China, Japan and the Republic of Korea demonstrates the determination of the three countries to strengthen communication and cooperation. The importance of cooperation between China, Japan and South Korea is not only reflected in economic strength, but also in the ability to jointly address global challenges. This cooperation is a "critical blow" to the United States, but it also creates more opportunities for independence and development for China, Japan, and South Korea. In a volatile international situation, China, Japan and the ROK should be good at seizing opportunities, strengthening cooperation, achieving win-win results, and making positive contributions to regional and global prosperity and stability.