Northeast Asia Diplomacy Exhibition’Super Week’ 3 major events have just risen

In the early days of U.S. President Joe Biden’s term, the curtain of’Super Week’, which will determine the direction of diplomatic war in Northeast Asia, has risen. Beginning with the first summit of the four-nation security council’Quad’ targeting China (12th), the 2+2 meetings of ROK-US, US-Japan diplomatic and defense ministers (15-18), Biden’s first high-level contact with the US-China ~19th) follows one after another. As Biden’s administration, which says’I will face China with an alliance’, materializes its policy, the diplomatic exploration war of each country in Northeast Asia is expected to intensify.

① Quad Summit: Establishment of Chinese pressure measures

At a meeting on the 12th (local time), the leaders of the four countries participating in the quad, including the US, Japan, Australia and India, emphasized the’free and open India-Pacific’ and clarified the pressure on China. The Washington Post interpreted it as “a signal that the Quad will be a central part of America’s Asian strategy.”

In the joint statement, △the rule of law △freedom of navigation and airspace △peaceful resolution of disputes △democratic values ​​△support for territorial conservation. Although he did not directly mention China, he made it clear his intention to establish an angle with China on issues such as Hong Kong’s democracy, the South China Sea and the territorial disputes of the Senkaku Islands (Chinese name Diaoyudao).

The Quad Summit also decided to come up with a practical plan by forming a working group (TF) in △new coronavirus infectious disease (Corona 19) vaccine supply, △key and new technology cooperation, and △climate change. It was also discussed how to increase vaccine production in India by supporting funding from the US and Japan and logistics from Australia. It was also revealed that it would secure anti-Chinese allies around this region by supplying the vaccines thus secured mainly to Southeast Asia.

The declaration of willingness to cooperate with cyber and core technologies is also linked to China’s checklist. The Biden administration also issued an executive order to re-examine the supply chain of four key parts that could become China’s trading weapon, such as additional sanctions against Huawei, a Chinese communication equipment company, and batteries for semiconductors and electric vehicles, rare earths and pharmaceuticals.

② Korea-US and Japan 2+2 talks: US strengthening alliance

The United States, which has formed a siege of China with a quadro, will hold a series of 2+2 talks with the key allies in Northeast Asia, Japan (16-17) and Korea (17-18). Choosing the two countries as the first places to visit after the inauguration of Secretary of State Tony Blincoln and Lloyd Austin has great significance in restoring China’s checks and triangular cooperation between Korea and the United States. It is highly likely that the results of the quad discussion and the basis for reviewing North Korea policy will be communicated to and discussed with Foreign Minister Eui-yong Eui-yong. Improving Korea-Japan relations is also one of the major interests of the United States. However, it is unlikely that they will directly force the public to join the pressure, as the situation is ahead of high-level contact with the US, China.

It is also an opportunity for the US, which is at the final stage of reviewing North Korea policy, to make a final coordination with the two countries. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and Pacific Affairs Sung Kim confirmed on the 12th that the review of North Korea policy will be completed within a few weeks. I will do it.” Since mid-February, reports that the United States is attempting to contact North Korea through the New York channel of the North Korean delegation to the United Nations came out on the 13th, and the results of the ROK-US negotiations are drawing more attention.

The North Korean issue was also mentioned at the quad summit. The leaders of the four countries said, “We reaffirm our commitment to complete denuclearization of North Korea in accordance with the resolution of the UN Security Council.”

③ US-China high-level contact: confrontation or compromise

The highlight of US-China relations is the high-level dialogue held in Anchorage, Alaska, from the 18th. Secretary of State Blincoln and White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan meet with China’s Yangzetsu Communist Party’s diplomatic politician and Wang Yi, a member of the State Council and Minister of Foreign Affairs. This meeting is more important as it is the first direct contact with the US, China, and the United States since President Biden took office in January. In the future, the US-China relationship is expected to be the first test to determine whether the US-China relationship will lead to confrontation or find clues to compromise.

The Biden administration has set China’s checks as its first diplomatic goal. President Biden pointed out China as the only US competitor in the’Intermediate Guidelines for National Security Strategy’, which was unveiled on the 3rd. Minister Blincoln has defined China as the largest geopolitical test of the 21st century.

It is noteworthy how China’s first reaction will come out, as it has begun to press all-round quadro. Aide Sullivan said, “The first-stage trade agreement will not be a major agenda for the US-China talks next week,” making it clear that there is no intention to withdraw public tariffs right away. Based on the results of these meetings, it is expected that the US, China, and leaders will engage in high-level diplomatic warfare.

Washington= Jeong Won Correspondent [email protected]

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