China-Japan cooperation should be ‘priority’ as regional uncertainties loom, experts say

Korean peninsula emerges as opportunity for Sino-Japanese security amid developing Russia-North Korea alliance, Trump presidency, experts say

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Soldiers try to enter the National Assembly building in Seoul on Wednesday after South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol moved to declare martial law. Experts at a forum in Tokyo said China, Japan and South Korea should enhance exchanges to help stabilise the Korean peninsula. Photo: AFP

Zhao Ziwenin Tokyo, Japan

Published: 1:22pm, 6 Dec 2024Updated: 4:01pm, 6 Dec 2024

The Korean peninsula could emerge as a promising area of security cooperation between China and Japan, given a shared regional goal, according to diplomats and international relations experts.

China and Japan “share the same position” on promoting peace, stability and denuclearisation on the peninsula, Gui Yongtao, an associate dean at Peking University’s school of international studies, told the Beijing-Tokyo Forum held in the Japanese capital this week.

“China and Japan should enhance exchanges with each other, including trilateral exchanges between China, Japan and South Korea so that the peninsula can be more stable,” he said.

“As tensions are escalating on the peninsula, we should give priority to the first goal – peace and stability – and all parties should be urged to reduce tensions by all means.”

Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya offers his insight at the Beijing-Tokyo Forum in Tokyo this week. Photo: Kyodo

Retired Japanese admiral Katsutoshi Kawano said Tokyo and Beijing faced more uncertainties as a Russia-North Korea alliance took shape but there was still potential for common ground.