Todd Bishop
Japanese media reported that the leaders of China, Japan and South Korea have tried to hold the three-nation summit in Beijing, China in December. However, it is generally believed that the fact that the meeting can be held is still unknown. Even if it can be done, if the ROK and Japan cannot resolve the conflict before the meeting, the focus of this year’s meeting will inevitably fall on the issues between Korea and Japan, such as history and trade restrictions.
Japan’s Kyodo News quoted a diplomatic source on August 4 that the Chinese, Japanese and Korean governments plan to start the three-nation summit in December. The three foreign ministers may discuss the agenda of the talks in Beijing on August 21.
The report also said that Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe intends to hold bilateral talks with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang to prepare for the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping in the spring of 2020.
Yonhap News Agency quoted a senior official from South Korea’s Qingwatai on the 5th, saying that the three countries of Korea, China and Japan are coordinating when to hold a meeting.
The senior official also said that the ROK’s position on the extension of the Korea-Japan Military Intelligence Protection Agreement has not changed. In addition, Japan believes that the “Japan-South Korea Claims Agreement” signed by the two countries in 1965 has indicated that South Korea has renounced its claims against Japan during the Japanese occupation and during World War II. When asked what position to hold on the relevant speeches, senior Korean officials can answer opinions within the party or the ruling camp, but the government has not and should not consider this issue.
