U.S. President Joe Biden will host Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio and South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol, at Camp David in Maryland on Aug. 18. This is the first time that Biden has hosted national leaders at the historic White House country retreat, and various media have indicated this as a measure of the importance of securing “a new chapter” in the trilateral relationship among the U.S., Japan and South Korea. Undoubtedly, it is the latest attempt by the war hawks in the Biden administration to court these important Asian nations to join the next phase in the Anglo-American war against China. The meeting will also occur in the context of ongoing tensions surrounding North Korea and their recent launches of ICBMs, as well as the recent trip to Pyongyang to celebrate the end of the Korean War by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, and Communist Party of China Politburo member Li Hongzhong.
“At the summit, the leaders will celebrate a new chapter in their trilateral relationship as they reaffirm their strong bonds of friendship and the ironclad alliances between the United States and Japan, and the United States and the Republic of Korea,” the White House wrote in a statement. “The three leaders will discuss expanding trilateral cooperation across the Indo-Pacific and beyond—including to address the continued threat posed by the D.P.R.K. [North Korea] and to strengthen ties with ASEAN and the Pacific Islands.”
In the context of the summit, China’s Global Times editorialized yesterday: “Camp David Summit Could Be Dangerous for Japan, South Korea.” The editorial begins:
“Are the U.S., Japan and South Korea moving toward a security bloc similar to a military alliance? Such concerns are growing. On Aug. 18, U.S. President Joe Biden will invite the leaders of Japan and South Korea to attend the Camp David summit. It is said that Washington is pushing for a ‘historic joint statement,’ which may include plans to boost extended deterrence and economic security cooperation plans for ‘building a global supply chain.’ Ranging from defense to economy and other fields, the summit has not yet started, but the feeling of a cold war it reveals has spread, casting a shadow of camp confrontation in the Asia-Pacific region.”
Global Times also cites the White House, which said “the three leaders will celebrate a ‘new chapter in their trilateral relations,’ and the U.S. ambassador to Japan wrote on Twitter that the summit promises to make history, and ‘will lead to a strategic paradigm shift.’” The editorial board continue: “Some analysts believe that this summit is likely to mark the beginning of building a trilateral military cooperation system between the U.S., Japan and South Korea.” They also say that “on the surface, the U.S., Japan, and South Korea are under the banner of ‘countering North Korea’s growing nuclear threat,’ but in fact, it has always been U.S.’ desire to build a ‘mini-NATO-style’ trilateral military alliance in Northeast Asia.”
The Global Times editors make it clear that such an alliance is not guaranteed, writing, “whether the U.S., Japan, and South Korea can truly reach this stage is still unknown,” and continues by citing articles in South Korean media outlets, that suggest there is little benefit in joining such an alliance, and that South Korea could help in dialogue between China and Japan.
The editorial concludes: “However, regardless of the circumstances, this incoming summit is indeed pushing the Northeast Asian region toward a new historic crossroads. On one side of the crossroads lies the continuation of the cooperation and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region, along with the resolution of conflicts through true multilateralism to achieve common security. On the other side is the emergence of a trilateral military alliance, which will plunge the Northeast Asian region into a profound security trap and potentially alter the trajectory of its future development. Both Japan and South Korea are located in Northeast Asia, deeply integrated with the security and prosperity here. The path they choose will leave completely different footnotes in history. It is hoped that these two countries will carefully consider their actions before proceeding.” (https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202308/1295785.shtml)
