On May 26, 2024, Chinese Premier Li Quiang agreed to initiate a dialogue with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeo. The following day in Seoul, a trilateral summit was held, and it was joined by Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. This marked the first bilateral meeting between Chinese and South Korean leaders in over four years, representing a significant step forward for diplomatic relations among these Asian countries. Though not much was expected from the summit, due to the tense history, Yoon told Li in their initial meeting that their respective countries should work together to advance mutual interests in global issues and tackle challenges that they relate to. At the end of the summit, the leaders agreed to regular meetings and identified priority areas for the group that may expand cooperation. 

The Stimson Center comments that this trilateral summit “indicates a change in China’s strategy toward South Korea.” China has become more apt to work with South Korea in recent years, compared to the past, and it is clear China recognizes the diplomatic importance of the summit. Yun Sun of the Stimson Center remarks that “the Summit is more symbolic than substantive.”  Yuki Tatsu adds further, saying that the summit “focused almost exclusively on less political issues” which contributes to the symbolic nature. The Associated Press comments that even just restarting this annual summit, after many years, and “agreeing on the need to improve ties is a positive sign for cooperation among the three Northeast Asian neighbors.” How far this cooperation will take them, is unknown. 

The return of this trilateral meeting between China, South Korea, and Japan is certainly a great movement toward cooperation between the three countries. Promoting political initiatives, including people-to-people and cultural exchanges, is very important to tackle shared issues concerning health and the environment. Though possibly disappointing that more political issues were not on fuller display, this might also be the best decision as returned cooperation is still in its infancy. As tensions persist, particularly regarding the U.S. and Taiwan, fostering collaboration in less contentious areas could pave the way for great cooperation in the future. Though this summit may be viewed as purely symbolic, it is important to acknowledge possible substantive outcomes that may arise from it. 

China, South Korea, and Japan share complex and multifaceted relationships that are shaped by historical events, economic ties, and geopolitical dynamics. Having colonized Korea once, Japan has long been a democratic nation with strong ties to the United States. South Korea is also a democratic nation allied to the U.S., which creates a unique situation due to the existent rivalry between China and the U.S. Despite these complicated histories, all three countries are major trading partners with quite integrated economies. They stand as key players in regional initiatives, including this trilateral summit and multilateral forums like A.S.E.A.N. North Korea remains a shared security concern for China, South Korea, and Japan which has led to cooperation as well as occasional friction. Balancing these elements is certainly a challenge for these countries as they navigate their unique issues as well as regional and global matters. This trilateral meeting was an annual meeting from 2008 until 2019, when it was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic and other complicated ties. This May 27th meeting marks the return of the annual meetings, with the agreement to institutionalize the trilateral constitution through various regular meetings. 

The revival of the trilateral summit among China, South Korea, and Japan marks a significant advancement in regional diplomacy. Despite historical tensions and geopolitical complexities, the commitment to regular meetings and focus on mutual interests signal a promising step toward stability and cooperation. Though it appears less contentious areas are being prioritized, it is still a good sign for future progress. This renewed engagement sets a positive example for diplomatic efforts worldwide, and it will certainly be interesting to see the outcomes of this cooperation.