Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin emphasized the need for continued trilateral cooperation during a meeting with the leadership of the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS). Despite ongoing tensions between China and Japan, the meeting aimed to maintain communication through the TCS and lay the groundwork for future trilateral summits.
During the meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jongno-gu, Seoul, Park stated, "There have been ups and downs, but we must continue to work together to enhance relations among the three countries. That is our destiny."
TCS Secretary-General Tatsushi Nishioka praised South Korea as the host country of the TCS and a strong supporter of trilateral cooperation, stating, "South Korea is the driving force behind Korea-China-Japan cooperation."
This meeting aligns with the government's diplomatic strategy to manage bilateral relations with China and Japan while continuing to address common cooperation agendas through the TCS. In May, Park also met with the TCS leadership and ambassadors from China and Japan to highlight the importance of communication and cooperation among the three nations.
The role of the TCS has gained attention as tensions between China and Japan have expanded beyond diplomatic disputes over Taiwan to include economic and security issues. While immediate agreements on political and security matters may be challenging, the TCS can facilitate cooperation in areas of mutual interest such as culture, youth, economy, health, and disaster response, thereby maintaining dialogue.
However, the TCS is not positioned to directly mediate the China-Japan conflict or quickly resume trilateral summits. The government is likely to focus on fostering conditions for dialogue among the three countries through practical cooperation and people-to-people exchanges rather than resolving political issues through the TCS.
A diplomatic expert from a national research institute commented, "Trilateral cooperation among Korea, China, and Japan is another pillar for stabilizing regional dynamics and managing Korea-China relations. This meeting reaffirms the government's policy direction to sustain cooperation among the three countries even amid China-Japan tensions."
He added, "Currently, China is reluctant to engage in government-level talks with Japan, as well as in 1.5-track dialogues involving academia, making it difficult for a trilateral summit to occur soon. However, South Korea's continued emphasis on the necessity of trilateral cooperation through the TCS is significant for managing the cooled atmosphere and creating conditions for future summits to resume."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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