The United States, Japan and South Korea on Monday jointly reaffirmed their defense commitments and voiced support for Taiwan, just days before President Trump is set to host Chinese leader Xi Jinping at the White House.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi in New York, where the three released a joint statement addressing security and economic concerns tied to China. The statement vowed to stand against “economic coercion and non-market policies and practices” and “arbitrary export restrictions that disrupt supply chains,” language widely understood to reference Beijing.
The three countries also announced a new trilateral consultation mechanism on economic security, aimed at strengthening supply chains and cooperation on critical technologies.
According to the statement, the United States “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 Japan and the ROK.” ROK refers to the Republic of Korea, South Korea’s official name.
The ministers also emphasized the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and said they support “Taiwan’s meaningful participation in appropriate international organizations.” Taiwan’s government welcomed the statement, saying in its own release that the renewed public support shows security in the strait has become a “strong consensus of the international community.”
On North Korea, the ministers “reaffirmed their resolute commitment to the complete denuclearization of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea” and called on Pyongyang to resume dialogue.
Timing raises questions
The statement comes as Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung are both in New York for the UN General Assembly, where all three leaders — along with Trump — are scheduled to speak Tuesday. Officials say both Takaichi and Lee are eager to meet with Trump directly.
Analysts say the timing reflects unease among US allies that Trump could offer concessions to Xi on Taiwan or trade in exchange for an economic agreement when the two leaders meet at the White House on Thursday. Even modest reductions in trade barriers for Beijing could weaken the competitive position of Japan and South Korea, according to analysts tracking the summit.
Takaichi drew criticism from Beijing last year after suggesting Tokyo could be drawn into a conflict over Taiwan. Meanwhile, Washington and Seoul continue to negotiate details of South Korea’s $350 billion investment package in the United States, part of a trade deal the two countries struck last year.
On Monday, a South Korean opposition lawmaker called for parliamentary review of that investment package, warning that negotiations over energy projects could leave South Korea shouldering a disproportionate share of the financial risk.
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