Japan-South Korea-China Summit Depends On Beijing Says Seoul

The prospect of a tripartite summit involving the leaders of China, Japan, and South Korea is dependent on Beijing according to the South Korean president's office reports Yonhap. The previous summit took place in Dec 2019, and with South Korea as the host in 2023 Seoul has offered to host a meeting later this year. However, recent comments from the Chinese ambassador to Seoul could scupper the prospects of such an event taking place.

• Yonhap: "It will depend on China's response," a senior presidential official told Yonhap News Agency, suggesting tensions over Chinese Ambassador to Seoul Xing Haiming's recent remarks could affect Beijing's decision.
  "We will stand by our principle on South Korea-China relations in a dignified manner," the official continued. "I don't think it's something we should bow our heads and beg them over."
• Yonhap: "Tensions have flared between Seoul and Beijing after Xing said in a meeting with main opposition Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung that those who "bet on China's loss" in its rivalry with the United States "will definitely regret it." The remarks were interpreted as a warning to Seoul against aligning itself with Washington."
• A resumption of the trilateral summit taking place would be viewed as a positive for regional security and economic cooperation. While South Korea and Japan are both US allies in the Indo-Pacific, maintaining at least cordial relations with China is seen as an important factor in avoiding an escalation in tensions across the wider region.