Seoul, Beijing and Tokyo in talks for May meeting

South Korea is in talks with China and Japan to host a three-way summit in May, Japanese and South Korean media reported, restoring a process that has been on hold since 2019 owing to the pandemic and political tensions.

South Korea, which would likely host the long-delayed event, is looking to hold the summit in late May, the Chosun newspaper reported yesterday, citing a government source it did not name.

Kyodo News of Japan reported earlier the meeting could be held next month and talks are set to touch on economic cooperation and regional issues.

The office of South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol reiterated it had been in talks for the three-way summit when asked about the reports and the foreign ministry in Seoul said it would release a date for the event when one has been set.

South Korea has been pressing for months to resume the summit and foreign ministers from the three agreed in November to push for a meeting. But momentum has slowed since then.

Japan’s top government spokesman, Yoshimasa Hayashi, told reporters yesterday that Tokyo would work with China and South Korea for a summit.

The three-way talks could follow a summit set for next week in Washington where Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is to meet US President Joe Biden.

Their talks are likely to address concerns about China’s assertiveness in the region, securing supply chains for items such as semiconductors that are less dependent on Beijing as well as the security threats posed by North Korea.

China has been feeling pressure as Japan and South Korea have moved closer to Washington in recent years, with the three raising security cooperation to some of their highest levels. Beijing, meanwhile, has clashed with the US over a range of issues.