To settle the dispute and strengthened trilateral relations, Japan, China, and S. Korea are going to hold a trilateral summit in China. (Image via www.orfonline.org)

China, Japan, and S. Korea to hold a summit in Chengdu late 2019

Alfonsus Adi Putra
Politics & Economic
News Flash Japan
Nov 05, 2019
1725
On the last day of ASEAN Summit in Bangkok, Monday, China’s Premier, Li Keqiang, talked to the Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe, about the plan to hold a trilateral meeting between China, Japan, and South Korea (S. Korea) in its country next month.

A senior official of the Japanese government stated that the trilateral meeting is planned to be held in southern Chengdu. The trilateral meeting itself is annual. However, due to the tension between Japan, China, and S. Korea regarding wartime dispute, political, and trade turmoil.

In 2019, Japan and S. Korea saw the lowest point of its bilateral relations. Starting in 2018, when the Supreme Court of S. Korea demanded Japanese companies in S. Korea to compensate for wartime labor during Japan’s invasion on the Korean Peninsula (1910 – 1945)

Japan, offended by the demand, said that it had been resolved in the 1965 agreement. Also, Japan decided to erase S. Korea from its whitelist, followed by the same retaliatory action by S. Korea.

Quoting the Chinese Premier, the senior official stated that the trilateral meeting would contribute to the world.

That was not the only discussion between Li and Abe. They also discussed the preparation for the state visit by the President of China, Xi Jinping, to Japan in Spring 2020 when the cherry blossom blooms. Both countries exchanged reciprocal state visits. Abe visited Beijing in October 2018, while Xi visited Osaka for the Group of 20 (G-20) Summit in June.

Abe also mentioned the resolution of Hong Kong protest and the Japanese professor detained by China due to the allegation of espionage. While urging China to mediate with Hong Kong to reach a peaceful solution, Abe also asked China to release the professor.

Abe and Li also discussed the territorial dispute on the East China Sea. Japan and China’s relations are strained due to the territorial and wartime dispute. Fortunately, both countries stated that recently, their relations had turned back to normal.

North Korea (N. Korea) also popped out in the discussion. Japan and China discussed nuclear development and activity in N. Korea. Abe had expressed his willingness to meet the Supreme Leader of N. Korea, Kim Jong-un, without any precondition to talk about the abduction of Japanese nationals in 1970 – 1980.

Source: https://bit.ly/2JO8bNO