Joe Biden’s US summit with Japanese, South Korean leaders looks to send ‘unity’ message
- Meeting at Camp David is expected to result in a series of defence, economic and diplomatic agreements aimed at pushing back against China
- ‘Strengthening our trilateral cooperation is critical to delivering for our people, for the region and for the world,’ says US Secretary of State Antony Blinken
For years, Beijing has counted on the historic animosity between Japan and South Korea as part of its divide and conquer playbook, even as Washington has worked to bolster its alliances and counter China’s growing footprint. At this week’s summit between the leaders of Japan, South Korea and the United States, Washington is hoping to permanently blunt with a show of unity that Chinese advantage on the geopolitical chessboard.
On Friday, US President Joe Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol will convene at the Camp David presidential retreat in Maryland for talks to strengthen ties, project a united front and announce a series of defence, economic and diplomatic agreements aimed at pushing back against the Asian giant.
“China, they will certainly not say anything positive and will be very critical of the trilateral statement,” said Christopher Johnstone, a senior fellow at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and a former CIA analyst. “They have always seen the difficulties between South Korea and Japan as a freebie for them, one where they wouldn’t have to work very hard to split the allies.
“Now that that has been repaired, the Chinese see very little advantage.”
While the three leaders have met five times on the margin of multilateral events, this is their first stand-alone summit and Biden’s first Camp David hosting of such an event.
