RoundtableKorea must take lead in deepening trilateral ties with China, Japan amid global crisis

Participants of a roundtable event co-hosted by The Korea Times and the Korean Institute for Presidential Studies, titled "How to Strengthen Korea-China-Japan Trilateral Cooperation in an Era of Global Upheaval?," pose at the headquarters of the newspaper in Seoul, April 8. From left, Oh Young-jin, president-publisher of The Korea Times; Park Min-hee, senior writer of Hankyoreh; Shin Bong-kil, honorary president of the Korean Council on Foreign Relations; Hahm Sung-deuk, dean of Kyonggi University's Graduate School of Political Studies; Lee Hee-sup, secretary-general of the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat; Bek Bum-hym, visiting professor at Kyonggi University's Graduate School of Political Studies; and Yu Zu-youl, president of Understanding Japan Society. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul

Trilateral cooperation among South Korea, China and Japan — once envisioned as an East Asian parallel to the European Union and built through summits and economic initiatives in the 2010s — has frayed under the weight of territorial disputes, the COVID-19 pandemic and deepening global turbulence.

China-Japan tensions over Taiwan have sharpened since last November, leaving South Korea, a so-called pivot country, struggling to mediate between the two. The United States-Israel war with Iran and mounting economic pressures have added further strain, testing Seoul's diplomatic bandwidth at a moment when U.S.-led unipolarity is visibly weakening.

Experts say Seoul must now seize the initiative to revive trilateral cooperation and set a broader vision for Northeast Asia. That was the central argument at a roundtable, co-hosted by The Korea Times and the Korean Institute for Presidential Studies, on April 8, moderated by Hahm Sung-deuk, dean of the Graduate School of Political Studies at Kyonggi University, where diplomats, academics and journalists gathered to discuss how to strengthen Korea-China-Japan cooperation in an era of global upheaval and explore ways to put that cooperation into practice.

The event was sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Kyonggi University Graduate School of Political Studies.

Shin Bong-kil, honorary president of the Korean Council on Foreign Relations and former ambassador to India, stressed the need for South Korea to play a key role in the trilateral cooperation by bridging the gap between Beijing and Tokyo and setting a vision.

“I think the Lee Jae Myung administration can help Japan host the trilateral summit, which did not happen due to the conflict between China and Japan surrounding Taiwan,” Shin said.

His remarks came as China-Japan relations hit their lowest point in years following remarks by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi that Japan would mobilize its self-defense forces if China attacks Taiwan. Beijing has taken retaliatory measures including sending warships, restricting rare earth exports, curbing Chinese tourism to Japan and canceling concerts by Japanese performers.

A trilateral summit scheduled to be hosted by Japan has stalled, with China effectively boycotting the process.

Oh Young-jin, president-publisher of The Korea Times, left, gives a welcome speech during a roundtable co-hosted by The Korea Times and the Korean Institute for Presidential Studies on the Korea-China-Japan trilateral cooperation at the newspaper's headquarters in Seoul, April 8. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul

Against that backdrop, Shin said South Korea is uniquely positioned to act as a bridge.

Shin suggested that South Korea should move on from demanding apologies for historical injustices to some extent, noting that it is important for the three countries to overcome historic conflicts and institutionalize cooperation.

“It is time for the Lee administration to present a vision for the Northeast Asia region. He could, for example, invite the Japanese emperor to visit both South Korea and Nanjing in China, which in itself would be a powerful act of reconciliation in history.”

Park Min-hee, senior writer of newspaper Hankyoreh specializing in foreign affairs, echoed Shin’s view, stressing the importance of South Korea taking the lead in dialogue with a multipolar approach, while noting that it will nevertheless be difficult to resolve conflicts among the three countries.

“South Korea can suggest trilateral meetings in less sensitive sectors such as climate change and disaster relief,” Park said, suggesting discussing the supply chain with other countries in Southeast Asia.

“While keeping the East Asian vision alive, we can start from a basic common ground by talking about the economy and peace, and then work to persuade one another to uphold peace, stability and prosperity in the region.”

Bek Bum-hym, visiting professor at the Graduate School of Political Studies at Kyonggi University, identified deep-seated mistrust of China as Japan's primary obstacle to engagement.

Drawing on the model of border passes used between North Korea and China, he proposed creating a regional economic belt through closer ties between geographically proximate areas such as Japan's Kyushu and Western Honshu regions and South Korea's North and South Gyeongsang provinces.

“By putting politics aside, we could build much tighter cooperation in economic, social and cultural areas,” Bek said, adding that South Korea, China and Japan should meet more often to seek cooperation.

Lee Hee-sup, secretary-general of the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat, stressed that sustained dialogue was the only path to durable cooperation.

"For trilateral cooperation to take root, Korea, China and Japan should continue to build trust through communication and exchanges, and work toward institutionalizing cooperation by steadily developing practices for managing conflicts and resolving disputes through dialogue when relations deteriorate," Lee said.

Ra Jong-yil, chair professor of political science at Kyung Hee University College of Politics and Economics, and Yu Zu-youl, president of the Understanding Japan Society, also attended the session.