The geopolitical uncertainty caused by US president Donald Trump's protectionist policy "America First" brings amazing results.
On Saturday 22 March a gathering of the Heads of Diplomacy of the 3 states was held in Tokyo, and they were: nipponese abroad Minister Takeshi Iwaya, Chinese abroad Minister Wang Yi and South Korean abroad Minister Cho Tae-yul. It was the first specified gathering since 2023.
"Global economical structure faces major changes," said Chinese abroad Minister Wang Yi during a high-level economical dialog between Japan and China, which besides took place on Saturday. "Unilaterism and protectionism are becoming increasingly common".
Wang insisted that free trade talks between Japan, China and South Korea be resumed quickly. He besides reiterated that China is curious in joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Transpacific Partnership Agreement (Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership – CPTPP) whose members are Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, fresh Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam.
As Japan, China and South Korea are linked to a number of commercial relationships, free trade is simply a substance on which these countries should focus in the face of Trump's customs war.
On 12 March, the Trump administration imposed an additional 25% work on imports of aluminium and steel, and plans to announce further tariffs on cars and another products as early as April.
Japan has sought exemption from customs duties as part of intergovernmental talks, but the United States has so far not expressed interest in nipponese proposals. Trump has told Tokyo representatives that Japan uses US military protection, and this protection entails circumstantial costs.
"They are making a luck on us economically," Trump said about Japan this period during 1 of his public appearances.
Trump's rhetoric besides shakes South Korea. "The average rate of work in South Korea (on American products) is 4 times higher than that imposed by the United States on South Korea, said Trump in his State Message. Seoul denied this claim, saying that under the free trade agreement the effective rate of work on American products is 0.79%.
Because South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeola's impeachment leaves the country in political chaos, Seoul fought to build a relation with Trump. Meanwhile, the US Department of Energy has designated South Korea as a "sensitive country", requiring peculiar attention in areas specified as security, terrorism and non-proliferation of atomic weapons.
Japan and South Korea have been relying on the American military for decades in terms of their own security. But now they feel insecure even on specified fundamental issues.
China welcomes this change in relations and tries to strengthen relations with South Korea and Japan under agreements without US participation. Importantly, the close-up between Washington and Moscow due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine makes China's offer even more interesting to 2 neighbours.
"The planet is busy with Ukraine and cannot give full attention to China," said a high-ranking authoritative at the nipponese Ministry of abroad Affairs. "It is crucial that Japan, as a neighbour, establish strong lines of communication (with China)".
A part of the political class in Japan approaches with a reserve of rapprochement with China. From the nipponese point of view, no crucial advancement has been made on pending issues, specified as repeated intrusions of Chinese ships into territorial waters around Japan's administered Senkaku islands, or the prolonged detention of nipponese citizens suspected of spying.
China, Japan and South Korea are planning to hold a summit in Japan this year, but the date of this gathering has not yet been set. Japan and South Korea are presently experiencing political turmoil in their countries.
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba meets with criticism for giving gifts worth 100,000 yen (670 USD) to LDP parliamentarians. any members of his organization even consider removing Ishiba from office before the elections to the advanced home of Parliament which will be held in the summer.
Troubles in the country can prevent Ishiba from focusing on abroad policy.
President Yoon Suk Yeola's impeachment process is underway in South Korea. It is hard to foretell how the destiny of the president himself and the Parliament of South Korea in the current composition will unfold.
Against this background, China is simply a crucial contrast. The Central State does not deal with interior turbulence, the assertive abroad policy has affirmative effects, the economical situation of the country is much clearer than in many another countries facing systemic difficulties. Beijing will surely want to usage these circumstances in building and strengthening relations with Japan and South Korea. The stronger this relationship, the weaker the influence of the American administration.
Leszek B. Glass
Email: [email protected]
