Chinese President Xi Jinping (right) and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe shake hands before the summit meeting at the State Guest House in Beijing on October 26, 2018. The two leaders agreed to improve economic cooperation and relations between the two countries, and formed a consensus on joint efforts for stability in Northeast Asia, including achieving North Korea’s denuclearization. Beijing/AP Yonhap News
It feels like the’diplomatic battles’ between the US and China, which were fiercely unfolded in mid-March to early April after the administration of Joe Biden was established, have been somewhat ended. President Biden, who took office on January 20, declared in his inaugural address that he would abandon the “American priority” of Donald Trump’s administration and “restore the alliance and re-engage in the world”, followed by a video speech at the Munich Security Conference on February 19. He urged the US and its allies to “prepare for long-term strategic competition with China.” In the White House’s National Security Strategy (NSS) guidelines released on March 3, President Biden then pointed to China as “the only competitor who can continue to challenge the stable and open international system.” Expressed its determination to “invigorate and modernize the alliance”. On March 12, President Biden, who took on a full-fledged diplomatic move, participated in a video conference called’Quad’, a security council for the U.S., Japan, Australia (Australia) and India, to check China, and confront China in the Indo-Pacific region. Secretary of State Tony Blincoln and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin were dispatched to the two alliances, South Korea (17-18) and Japan (16-17). Then, Secretary of State Blincoln and US White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan traveled to Anchorage, Alaska on the 18th to 19th. We had a surprising one-hour tag-matching story. Afterwards, on April 2nd, the heads of the National Security Office of Japan and Korea were invited to the Naval Academy in Maryland to hold a three-country talks between Korea, the United States, and Japan. On the 16th, President Biden will hold his first face-to-face meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga after taking office. China wasn’t just watching the swift movement of the United States. Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited six Middle Eastern countries, including Iran, after meetings with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at Guilin on the 23rd and 23rd. After returning to Korea on the 30th, Director Wang Yi met with foreign ministers from four ASEAN countries, including Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines, and Malaysia, and then moved to Xiamen in Fujian Province on the 3rd to meet with Foreign Minister Eui-yong Eui-yong. The Republic of Korea was in the midst of fierce diplomatic war between the US and China to show off their strength.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu
Looking at the situation so far, one big gap stands out. China and Japan. Director Wang Yi traveled to Korea and Japan on November 25-27 last year, before the inauguration of the Biden administration. At that time, the manager Wang Yi used the expression “Iluidaesu” (一衣帶水), which is a close neighbor to Japan, and “sumangsangjo (守望相助),” which means a friend who sees the network and gives and receives help to Korea. As if he was worried that there were no face-to-face talks between China and Japan since President Biden took office, Director Wang Yi speaks on the phone with Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi on the afternoon of the 5th.
Data from the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs conveying the results of the Sino-Japanese diplomatic ministers’ meeting. Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Affairs.
What kind of conversation was going on in this call? The diplomatic authorities of Japan and China have organized the contents of the calls and hung them in their respective websites. My first impression of seeing this was, “Is it right that you two spoke on the phone?” Obviously, we’ve been talking about the same thing, but it’s because there was so much difference in the emphasis of China-Japan. Let’s take a look at the full text, which is not very long, needless to be complicated. First is Japan. It is noticeable that I carefully wrote down when I started talking and how long I spoke.
Japan-China Foreign Affairs Telephone Conference Rei and 3 April 5th 1. From 6pm on April 5th, for an hour and a half, Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi held a telephone conference with Wang, a member of the State Council and the Foreign Minister. The outline is as follows. Both foreign ministers confirmed the importance of contributing to the local and international community as both responsible powers. The two foreign ministers expressed their expectations for the 50th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Japan and China next year and to conduct exchanges and dialogues in a wide range of fields. 2. Minister Motegi once again conveyed serious concerns about the invasion of Senkaku territorial waters by the Chinese coastal light, the China Coast Guard Law, the situation in the South China Sea, the situation in Hong Kong, and the human rights situation in Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region, and urged concrete action. In addition, the Minister of Motegi again called for the early abolition of restrictions on imports of Japanese food. 3. Both Foreign Ministers confirmed that they will continue to discuss matters related to the Japan-China economy, including establishing a truly fair, fair and stable business environment. The two foreign ministers also confirmed that they are continuing to talk about Corona 19, and they agreed on the intensification of dialogue on the issue of climate change. 4. The two foreign ministers also exchanged opinions on the international situation, including North Korea. Regarding the situation in North Korea, opinions were agreed on the importance of the full implementation of the Security Council resolution as well as confirming solidarity toward denuclearization. In addition, Motegi requested understanding and support for the early resolution of the abduction issue, and Wang confirmed his continued support from the State Council and the Foreign Minister. In addition, the two foreign ministers also exchanged opinions on the situation in Myanmar, and the Minister of Motegi said that he is strongly demanding the Myanmar armed forces to immediately stop violence, liberation of officials, and early restoration of the democratic political system. There was also a consensus on the importance of solidarity in society.
The data confirms that China and Japan, the world’s second-largest (China) and third-largest (Japan) in terms of economic scale, agreed that they should maintain a smooth relationship as a “responsible powerhouse”. 2022 is the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and China and 50 years after the normalization of diplomatic relations between China and Japan. Using this as a medium, China-Japan will endeavor to maintain a smooth relationship even in a difficult situation. However, the call, which lasted an hour and a half, must have been made in a very sharp atmosphere. Japan has “strongly demanded” concrete action from China on the Senkaku Islands (Chinese name Diaoyudao), which is undergoing territorial disputes between China and Japan, China’s unilateral action in the South China Sea, and human rights issues in Hong Kong and Xinjiang. because of. Japan then stated that the opinions of China and Japan were “consistent” with regard to the North Korean issue, which South Korea cannot but think sensitively, “on the importance of the full implementation of the Security Council resolution while confirming solidarity toward denuclearization.” The resolution of the Security Council cannot be reached without the consent of China, which is a permanent member of the Security Council and has veto power. Although Japan says that “the implementation of the Security Council resolution is important”, it cannot be said that China is “not important.” China seems to have expressed its opinion that it agrees on a principled basis.
Data from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs conveying the results of the Sino-Japanese diplomatic ministers’ meeting. Save the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China
In the end, through this currency, Japan strongly checks China’s actions in the East China Sea (regions including the Senkaku Islands), the South China Sea, Hong Kong, and Xinjiang, and forces China to thoroughly comply with the resolutions of the Security Council to pressure North Korea’s denuclearization. Achieved the purpose of confirming. So how was China? Let’s look at the material.
King Talks on the Phone with Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi On April 5, 2021, Wangi, a member of the State Council and head of the Foreign Ministry, spoke with Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi. Wang Yi said that China and Japan, faced with a complex international situation, have long been neighboring countries, and as the world’s second and third economic powers, they deserve to adapt to the trends and international circumstances of the times, respect each other, trust each other, and mutually trust each other. They expressed their meaning to cooperate for good, cooperate for the region and the world, and play an active role in the development of peace. (What Wang said later) The two sides cherish and maintain the improvement and development of the relationship that China-Japan is difficult to gain, and by steadfastly implementing and implementing the important common recognition achieved by President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide last year, China-Japan In order to comply with the principles and spirit of the four political documents between the two countries, and to ensure that relations between the two countries do not deteriorate, they must not stagnate, do not retreat, and do not get involved in the so-called confrontation between the major powers. China hopes that Japan as an independent and independent state objectively treats China’s development with reason and does not keep pace with some countries that have prejudices against China. Since Japan-US is an alliance relationship, and China-Japan signed a treaty of friendship, Japan is also obligated to fulfill its obligations. China will continue to promote practical cooperation with Japan, support each other to ensure that the Tokyo Olympics and the Beijing Winter Olympics are well held, promote exchanges between China-Japan culture and sports this year and next year, and mark the 50th anniversary of normalization of diplomatic relations between China and Japan next year. We want to make efforts to improve public sentiment and create a more stable and sound relationship between Japan and China for the next 50 years. Motegi Toshimitsu said that Japan-China are close to each other, and maintaining the stability and development of Japan-China relations is very important not only for both countries and regions, but also for the world. The Japan-US alliance is not aimed at a specific third country, Japan highly values relations with China, and the attitude of developing Japan-China relations stably remains unchanged. (What Motegi said later) Japan wants to create a friendly atmosphere to maintain communication with China, strengthen dialogue, promote mutual trust to properly manage differences, and celebrate the 50th anniversary of normalization of diplomatic relations between Japan and China. Japan wants to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with China in each sector, and will support and maintain communication in order to successfully host the Tokyo Olympics and the Beijing Winter Olympics. Wang Yi expressed his principled stance on issues such as Diaoyudao and the South China Sea, opposed Japan’s intervention in China’s internal affairs, such as Xinjiang and Hong Kong, and responded to Japan’s compliance with the basic principles of international relations and China’s internal affairs as a neighboring country. They demanded that they keep a minimum of respect, and that they don’t have to stretch out their hands too long. The two sides also exchanged opinions on international regional issues such as regional cooperation, climate change and the situation in Myanmar.
Even in this material, we can read the hopes of both countries to stably manage China-Japan relations. However, China has not concealed a clear hostility to the situation in which the US and Japan are besieging China with the US-Japan alliance and quads ahead. Director Wang Yi told Foreign Minister Motegi that Japan “as an independent independent state objectively treats the development of China with reason and does not keep pace with some countries that have prejudice against China”, “Japan is (with China) friendly. “Since we are signing the treaty, we have an obligation to fulfill the obligations of the treaty.” The Sino-Japanese Joint Statement signed by Japanese Prime Minister Tanaka Gakuei on September 29, 1972 and Prime Minister Zhou Enlai of the People’s Republic of China, and the Sino-Japanese Peace Treaty signed by the two countries on August 12, 1978, is the one that China has advocated. The principles of’Chinese principle’ (the principle that Taiwan is also part of China), mutual respect, and the principle of non-interference in internal affairs are stated. Minister Wang Yi repeatedly emphasized that Japan should not interfere with China’s internal affairs such as Hong Kong and Xinjiang. Such content cannot be found in the Japanese version. However, contrary to Japan’s emphasis, it did not comment on the North Korean nuclear issue at all. A document that summarizes the contents of the Sino-Japanese talks from the standpoint of China, emphasizing the active role of the Moon Jae-in administration in resolving the North Korean nuclear issue and advocating the principle of’double-gauge parallel’ that China has maintained for a long time (denuclearization and simultaneous progression of peace agreement negotiations) It doesn’t seem like he felt the need to even mention the North Korean issue. Through the talks, China used the framework of the US-Japan alliance and quads to attack Japan with a strong tone to interfere with China’s internal affairs. I told Japan to become an independent independent country instead of becoming a’rattle of the United States’, so I am really curious about the reaction of Foreign Minister Motegi. Looking at the two documents, you can foresee that the future of the Sino-Japanese relationship will not be easy in the future. So, what about Korea-China relations that are stepping behind Japan? Korea is the second alliance in the Indo-Pacific region that the United States values after Japan. If South Korea confronts China by reinforcing the ROK-US alliance following Japan’s successor and strengthening the trilateral cooperation between Korea-US-Japan, China’s dictum of becoming a’self-independent state’ is confirmed in the document released in the future. Will be able to. What if you don’t like that and you keep the same ambiguity as you are now? In the United States, the voices of those who are concerned about the future of the US-Korea alliance are increasing. In the coming years, the ROK-US alliance will face great challenges. If a problem is difficult, it is difficult because the problem is really difficult. It is not easy to give an answer, and only worries are piled up. By Gil Yoon-hyung, staff reporter [email protected]