Japan Facilitates Foreign Ministers' Meeting with China and South Korea

In a significant diplomatic engagement, Japan hosted foreign ministers from China and South Korea in Tokyo, aiming to strengthen cooperation in the face of escalating geopolitical tensions. The gathering, which took place on March 22, 2025, was marked by discussions on trade, regional security, and various pressing global issues.

The backdrop of this meeting was the increasingly fraught international landscape, particularly influenced by tariff threats from the United States. Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya emphasized the importance of dialogue and collaboration, suggesting that the current global climate presents a pivotal moment in history.

"Overcoming divisions through cooperative efforts has never been more crucial," Iwaya stated, as he welcomed his counterparts, Wang Yi from China and Cho Tae-yul from South Korea.

Wang Yi highlighted the significance of historical reflection, noting that 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the conclusion of World War II. He argued for a need to confront the past honestly to forge a better future for the region.

Cho Tae-yul of South Korea echoed these sentiments, asserting that the trilateral cooperation could send a hopeful message to the world. The ministers also addressed issues surrounding the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, reaffirming commitments made during a leadership summit in Seoul in May 2025, the first such meeting in five years.

"Ensuring peace and security on the Korean Peninsula is vital for the stability and prosperity of East Asia and beyond," Cho added, expressing hope for productive discussions regarding North Korea's nuclear ambitions.

Moreover, Cho urged for an end to military collaboration between North Korea and Russia, underlining that North Korea should not benefit from its actions amid the ongoing Ukraine conflict. He called for a unified effort among Japan, China, and South Korea to enforce United Nations sanctions against Pyongyang.

Contrarily, China maintains a supportive stance towards North Korea, providing both economic and political backing to the isolated regime, while Japan and South Korea align closely with U.S. policies, which include hosting American military forces on their soil.

In the context of the ongoing trade tensions, the meeting underscored that all three nations, particularly China, have been adversely affected by tariffs imposed by the U.S. under President Trump's administration.

On the previous day, the foreign ministers met with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who stressed the importance of pragmatic diplomacy amid these challenges.

In addition to trade issues, the ministers discussed topics ranging from climate change and aging populations to cooperative strategies for managing natural disasters and the implications of Russia's military actions in Ukraine. Attention was also given to the prospect of scheduling a trilateral leaders' summit by the end of 2025, as reported by Japan's public broadcaster NHK.

Bilateral meetings, including the first high-level economic dialogue between Japan and China in six years, were also on the agenda. Japan aims to resume its seafood exports to China, which had been halted in 2023 following the controversial release of wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear plant.