The United States, Japan and South Korea announced a new economic-security consultation and reinforced their support for stability across the Taiwan Strait on Monday, sending a coordinated message on two of Beijing’s most sensitive issues just days before Chinese President Xi Jinping’s summit with US President Donald Trump.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu and South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun unveiled the initiative after meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
The three governments pledged to stand against economic coercion and “non-market policies and practices” that produce harmful industrial overcapacity and distort markets, as well as arbitrary export restrictions that disrupt global supply chains.
They also agreed to strengthen an existing trilateral supply-chain early warning system, according to a joint statement released by the US State Department.
Trump is scheduled to meet Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Tuesday, two days before his talks with Xi at the White House, giving Tokyo an opportunity to convey its priorities directly to the US president ahead of the summit.
Takaichi also met Trump at the White House in March, less than two months before the US president travelled to Beijing for talks with Xi.
Trump spoke with her again by phone after the May summit, providing what Takaichi described as a detailed account of his discussions with the Chinese leader.
Xi is expected to arrive in the United States on Wednesday for a three-day state visit, with trade, artificial intelligence and other economic and security issues expected to feature prominently in his meeting with Trump.
China not identified as target of new economic-security consultation
The trilateral statement did not identify China as the target of the new economic-security consultation. But its references to economic coercion, industrial overcapacity and export restrictions closely tracked long-standing complaints by Washington and its Asian allies about Beijing’s economic practices.
China’s dominance of critical-mineral processing and its restrictions on exports of some strategically important materials have become major concerns for the US and other advanced economies seeking to reduce their dependence on Chinese supply chains.
The statement also called for closer cooperation among the three countries on semiconductors and for stronger protections around critical and emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, quantum technology, digital infrastructure and biotechnology.
The three governments said they would “cooperatively reinforce advanced-technology stacks and supply chain resilience” and expressed interest in expanding cooperation among their national laboratories.
The announcement comes as Washington and Beijing hold their own economic talks ahead of the Xi-Trump summit.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer met Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng in New York over the weekend to discuss possible summit deliverables, including trade and artificial intelligence.
Taiwan Strait concerns raised at meeting
Alongside the economic-security measures, Rubio, Motegi and Cho emphasised the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and encouraged the peaceful resolution of cross-strait disputes.
They opposed unilateral attempts to change the status quo and expressed support for Taiwan’s “meaningful participation” in appropriate international organisations.
The language is likely to draw scrutiny from Beijing, which regards Taiwan as part of China to be reunited by force if necessary.
Most countries, including the United States, do not recognise Taiwan as an independent state, but Washington is opposed to any attempt to take the self-ruled island by force and is committed to supplying it with weapons.
The three officials also supported freedom of navigation and overflight, unimpeded lawful commerce and other lawful uses of the sea in the Indo-Pacific, in accordance with international law as reflected in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
On energy security, Washington, Tokyo and Seoul agreed to work towards stronger regional supply resilience by increasing oil stockpiles and encouraging cooperation between energy-producing and consuming countries.
They also committed to implementing a July memorandum to accelerate the deployment of small modular nuclear reactors in third countries under nuclear safety, security and non-proliferation standards.
The meeting also covered North Korea, with the three officials reaffirming their commitment to the complete denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula and calling on Pyongyang to return to dialogue.
They pledged to continue efforts against revenue-generating activities that support North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile programmes, including illicit cyber operations and the overseas deployment of North Korean information-technology workers.
Rubio reiterated US defence commitments to Japan and South Korea, including Washington’s extended nuclear deterrence, while the three countries promised to continue security cooperation and consultations at all levels. -- SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
