Table of Contents
China urges Japan and South Korea to uphold free trade and reject "protectionism" as they meet in a trilateral summit in Seoul. Chinese Premier Li Qiang opposes turning economic and trade issues into "political games or security matters." The summit comes amid regional security concerns, including nuclear and missile threats from North Korea. The three leaders agreed to institutionalize three-way cooperation and continue talks for a free trade agreement. China is seeking to drive a wedge between the U.S., South Korea, and Japan, and the countries jointly called for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. On the economic front, they agreed to ensure a global level playing field that was transparent for trade and investment. Ahead of the summit, Li held bilateral talks with the leaders of South Korea and Japan. Japan expressed "serious concerns" about the situation in the South China Sea and military activities near Taiwan. Both Beijing and Tokyo will want to try to find a way to keep their relationship stable, but the security environment makes it challenging.
