Protesters shout slogans throughout a rally forward of the Camp David summit between the U.S. President Joe Biden, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, in Seoul, South Korea, August 17, 2023. /CFP
Editor’s notice:Â Gabriela Bernal, a particular commentator for CGTN, is a Korean analyst and Ph.D. scholar on the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, South Korea. The article displays the writer’s opinions and never essentially the views of CGTN.
The U.S., the Republic of Korea (ROK), and Japan are holding their first-ever standalone trilateral summit at Camp David on August 18. While Washington pushes for nearer Seoul-Tokyo ties, nonetheless, regional divisions deepen and prospects for long-term stability diminish.
The leaders of the three nations appear to be more and more on the identical web page. For one, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol has been pushing to enhance ties with Japan ever since taking workplace final yr. Despite the numerous unresolved points between the 2 nations, Yoon has vowed to revitalize Seoul-Tokyo relations. He as soon as once more highlighted this purpose in his Liberation Day speech on August 15, saying South Korea and Japan are “partners who share universal values and pursue common interests.” Yoon additionally praised the upcoming summit, saying it “will set a new milestone in trilateral cooperation contributing to peace and prosperity” for the ROK and the area.
The feedback have been stunning to many since Liberation Day is when Korea remembers the day it gained independence from Japanese colonial rule. Despite Yoon’s feedback, South Korea’s Foreign Ministry expressed “deep disappointment and regret that responsible leaders of the Japanese government and parliament sent offerings or paid visits to the Yasukuni Shrine that beautifies Japan’s past war of aggression.” It urged Japan “to look squarely at history and show genuine reflection and repentance on the past through action.” Nevertheless, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida marked the day with out making any reference to Japanese aggression throughout the battle.
There is a transparent disconnect between the South Korean president and different members of presidency. While Yoon requires a trilateral alliance, many South Koreans are ready for the federal government to resolve historic points with Japan. One such difficulty is Japan’s use of pressured labor throughout the battle, which pressured Koreans to work in Japan in opposition to their will.
Although the ROK’s Supreme Court ordered Nippon Steel and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to pay compensation to the Korean victims, Yoon unexpectedly put collectively an “agreement” earlier this yr by way of which South Korean corporations pay reparations to the victims as an alternative. Needless to say the deal was met with main backlash each from authorities officers and the general public. The U.S., however, praised the settlement as “groundbreaking.”
The U.S., South Korea and Japan maintain a joint missile protection drill within the worldwide waters of the east coast of Korean Peninsula, February 22, 2023. /CFP
While cooperation itself shouldn’t be a foul factor, a technique primarily based on haste and short-term pursuits can’t be conducive to the long-term peace and prosperity of neither South Korea, nor Japan or the area. In addition, Yoon’s coverage of isolating different key allies whereas putting all his eggs within the U.S.-Japan basket doesn’t bode properly for South Korea’s long-term pursuits both.
Given its complicated geopolitical place, it has all the time been essential for the ROK to undertake a balanced diplomatic technique that promotes multilateral cooperation. To this finish, the ROK has actively participated in varied multilateral organizations and boards, such because the United Nations, the ASEAN Regional Forum, and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, to facilitate open dialogue, construct belief and forge partnerships.
It can be in Japan’s finest pursuits to prioritize a multilateral strategy to diplomacy. Instead of specializing in army buildup and army drills with the U.S. and the ROK, adopting a extra impartial function whereas cooperating with varied regional and international companions shall be conducive to higher stability, safety and prosperity each at residence and overseas.Â
While establishing a U.S.-ROK-Japan “bloc” might profit Washington’s nationwide pursuits, doing so can have destructive penalties for South Korea and Japan. In truth, key to attaining regional stability is trilateral cooperation between Seoul, Beijing, and Tokyo. While the U.S. will all the time push for its personal pursuits wherever on this planet, the ROK and Japan should not neglect the necessity to keep cooperation with regional companions. While the U.S. can decide up and go away because it sees match as a result of its faraway location, this isn’t the case for the ROK or Japan. As such, Seoul and Tokyo can not afford to undertake the identical form of dangerous habits.
Seoul and Tokyo should maintain this in thoughts throughout the Camp David summit so as to not jeopardize their very own nationwide pursuits or the long-term stability of the area.
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Source: CGTN