March 22 (Reuters) – The foreign ministers of Japan, China, and South Korea met in Tokyo on Saturday to discuss important security and economic issues at a time of growing global uncertainty.
Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya said the world is at a “turning point” and that stronger cooperation is needed. The three ministers agreed to speed up preparations for a trilateral summit in Japan. They also discussed shared concerns, such as declining birthrates and aging populations in their countries.
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Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi highlighted the power of their combined economies, which total over $24 trillion and serve a population of nearly 1.6 billion people. He emphasized that the three nations, working together, could have a major global influence. Wang also expressed China’s interest in restarting free trade talks and expanding a regional economic partnership.
However, several disagreements remain. China’s close ties with North Korea, its increasing military activities near Taiwan, and its support for Russia in the Ukraine war continue to create tensions with Japan and South Korea.
South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-Yul urged China to help convince North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons. He also called for an end to any military cooperation between Russia and North Korea.
Japan and South Korea, both strong allies of the United States, share Washington’s concerns about China’s growing influence in the region.
In addition to the main meeting, Iwaya will hold separate discussions with his Chinese and South Korean counterparts. One key issue is China’s ban on Japanese seafood imports, which was imposed after Japan released treated wastewater from the damaged Fukushima nuclear plant in 2023.
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This was the first time the three foreign ministers met since 2023, and their discussions could shape future relations in East Asia.
