“Ironclad commitments.” That was the phrase Washington chose on Monday, September 21, in New York, three days before Donald Trump was due to sit down with Xi Jinping at the White House. The United States, the statement said, “reiterated its ironclad commitments to the defense of Japan and the ROK, backed by America’s unmatched military strength, including its nuclear capabilities”, and reaffirmed its extended deterrence commitments to both. ROK is the initials of South Korea’s official name, the Republic of Korea.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio had met South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and Japan’s Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. Reuters reported that the three nations also voiced support for Taiwan.
What the three said
The joint statement vowed, in apparent reference to China, to stand firm “against economic coercion and non-market policies and practices” and “arbitrary export restrictions that disrupt supply chains”. The ministers welcomed a new trilateral consultation mechanism on economic security, part of wider efforts to strengthen supply chains and cooperate on critical technologies.
They stressed robust security cooperation and the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, and “expressed support for Taiwan’s meaningful participation in appropriate international organizations”. On North Korea, they “reaffirmed their resolute commitment to the complete denuclearization” of the country and called on Pyongyang to resume dialogue. Taiwan’s foreign ministry welcomed the language, saying renewed joint support for peace in the strait shows security there has become a “strong consensus of the international community”.
Why the allies are nervous
Analysts say Tokyo and Seoul worry that Trump may offer Xi concessions on Taiwan and trade in return for an economic win. Both Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung were keen to see Trump during the General Assembly, where all three were due to speak on Tuesday, officials said.
Trade is the sharper worry. Analysts said the allies will study any announcement from the summit for its effect on their competitiveness against China, since even a modest cut in barriers for Beijing could erode their position. Takaichi angered Beijing last year by saying Tokyo could be drawn into a conflict over Taiwan.
South Korea has its own money question. Seoul and Washington are still negotiating details of Seoul’s $350 billion investment package in the United States, part of a trade deal struck last year. On Monday an opposition lawmaker in Seoul called for parliamentary scrutiny, warning that talks over energy projects could leave South Korea carrying disproportionate financial risk.
Sources
- US stresses backing for Japan, Korea and Taiwan ahead of Trump-Xi summit
- US stresses backing for Japan, Korea and Taiwan ahead of Trump-Xi summit
- US stresses backing for Japan, Korea and Taiwan ahead of Trump-Xi summit
