Japan: "No Schedule Set for Korea-China-Japan Summit... Support for Korea's Efforts"

"Response to report 'Held in Seoul on 26-27'" Japanese media "Korea-Japan expected to raise issues on China's maritime expansion and military buildup"

Regarding reports that South Korea, China, and Japan are in final coordination to hold a trilateral summit in Seoul on the 26th and 27th of this month, the Japanese government stated on the 8th that "nothing has been decided regarding the schedule" and expressed support for the efforts of South Korea, the chair country.

Hayashi Yoshimasa, Chief Cabinet Secretary of Japan
Photo by AFP Yonhap News

Japanese government spokesperson and Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi responded this way to questions about the schedule for the South Korea-China-Japan summit during a press conference held that afternoon.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi said, "At the trilateral foreign ministers' meeting last November, there was consensus to accelerate work toward holding the summit at an appropriate time as soon as possible," adding, "Japan will continue to support the efforts of South Korea as the chair country and coordinate with the three countries for an early holding of the summit."

If the schedule for the South Korea-China-Japan summit is confirmed as is, the trilateral summit will be held for the first time in four years and five months. The meeting is expected to be attended by President Yoon Suk-yeol, Chinese Premier Li Qiang, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. It is also reported that South Korea, China, and Japan are coordinating to hold not only the trilateral summit but also bilateral meetings such as South Korea-Japan and China-Japan summits.

Earlier, Nihon Keizai Shimbun and NHK reported on the same day that South Korea, China, and Japan are coordinating to hold the summit in Seoul on the 26th and 27th.

Nihon Keizai stated, "During the four and a half years when the summit was not held, China advanced its maritime presence in the East and South China Seas and strengthened its military power," and added, "South Korea and Japan are expected to raise issues with China at the trilateral summit." NHK forecasted that the summit would also include exchanges of views on North Korea's nuclear and missile development and the issue of abductees.

The South Korea-China-Japan summit was originally intended to be held once a year on a rotating basis, but it has been suspended since the meeting held in December 2019 in Chengdu, China, due to the deterioration of South Korea-Japan relations and the spread of COVID-19.