Wang’s Japan, SK visits eye to boost cooperation

US influence wanes in Asia as allies make policies out of their own interests

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi will pay visits to Japan and South Korea next week with anticipations to facilitate trilateral talks among national leaders, discuss details on implementing the just-inked Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), and seek cooperation with neighboring countries to revive the economy in the post-COVID-19 period.

As the farce between the incumbent US President Donald Trump and president-elect Joe Biden is ongoing, the US’ influence is waning especially after two of its important allies in Asia – Japan and South Korea – are joining the RCEP and making policies more out of their own interests than those concerning pressure from the US. Together with China, the three major countries in Northeast Asia are seeking the possibility to put aside political differences and disputes over historical issues and to focus on economic recovery and the fight against coronavirus, they noted.

Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Friday that at the invitation of foreign ministers of Japan and South Korea, Wang will pay visits to the two countries from November 24 to 27. No other details have been revealed.

Japanese media reported that Wang is expected to meet with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga.

Wang’s visit takes place when China and Japan are seeking to build stable bilateral ties, as Suga has recently replaced Shinzo Abe to become prime minister and the US is under a transition period between Donald Trump and Joe Biden, said Zhou Yongsheng, deputy director of the Japanese Studies Center at China Foreign Affairs University.

But considering Biden might not adopt extreme attack and pressuring measures against China, Suga would also hope to see more cooperation with China. Trump’s economic sanctions on allies also hurt Japan, making it realize the importance to have more policies that fit Japan’s benefit, not the US, and joining RCEP is one big step, Zhou noted.

The expert noted Suga is adhering to Abe’s approach to China of “two strong hands” – strengthening talks and economic cooperation; ramping up efforts in rallying allies to contain China on security and political fields. For example, Diaoyu Islands is a topic that Japan has hyped recently.

Wang is also scheduled to visit South Korea after Japan. Trilateral talks among China, South Korea and Japan would be a focus during Wang’s trip, and other topics include how to implement RCEP in detail and promoting China-South Korea-Japan Free Trade Agreement, experts said.

Wang may also play a mediator role for South Korea and Japan to control their disputes and resume the trilateral talks when more work needs to be done to implement the RCEP, said Da Zhigang, director and research fellow of the Institute of Northeast Asian Studies at Heilongjiang Provincial Academy of Social Sciences.

Despite disputes on historical or present issues, the three countries are working on the right track to solving problems, as well as promoting multilateralism.

There will be discussions on the free trade talks among the three countries to further lower taxes and increase trade exchanges amid the coronavirushit global economy. Promoting the trilateral agreement would also help the three countries avoid external risks, especially uncertainties and pressure from the US, Da said.