Unprecedented, these three members of Camp David gathered in the United States | Biden | Camp David

This article is reprinted from the Governor of Chang'an Street

The White House previously announced that US President Biden will host Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korean President Yoon Seok yeol at Camp David on August 18th, and host a trilateral leadership summit.

Previously, leaders of the United States, Japan, and South Korea held joint meetings during international events, but never held a formal trilateral summit. On the 1st, South Korea's Central Daily News quoted South Korean Ambassador to the United States, Cho Hyun dong, as saying that this will be an unprecedented summit between the three countries - the first time leaders of the three countries have gathered specifically for a meeting.

On May 21st, during the G7 Leaders Summit, Biden, Fumio Kishida, and Yoon Seok yeol held talks. The Governor of Chang'an Street noticed that the meeting conveyed signals of escalating tensions in terms of time, location, and topic.

In terms of time, the Office of the President of South Korea believes that the meeting is in a critical period as the relationship between Japan and South Korea has been thawed. However, the cost of unfreezing Japan South Korea relations is the complete collapse of regional stability.

Previously, due to Japan's forced recruitment of labor and comfort women during World War II, the relationship between Japan and South Korea has been in a tense state for many years. But after Yin Xiyue took office, she shelved her grievances with Japan, paid out of her own pocket to compensate for labor victims, and restored the intelligence sharing agreement with Japan.

Meanwhile, under a series of actions by the South Korean government, North Korean diplomacy has reached a stalemate. The United States and South Korea also stated that if North Korea launches a nuclear attack on the United States or its allies or partners, it will lead to the end of the North Korean regime. It is clearly deliberately creating tension, provoking confrontation, and rendering threats.

Just before the White House spokesperson announced the trilateral meeting on August 18th, the United States and South Korea held their first nuclear consultation group meeting in Seoul. During this period, the US nuclear submarine visited the port of Busan for the first time since 1981.

Just as the situation on the Korean Peninsula was tense, another American soldier illegally crossed the border and entered North Korea, bringing a new crisis to the situation on the peninsula.

From the perspective of location, the site selection for this summit meeting is also quite particular. The official name of Camp David is the Thurmont Naval Support Facility, which is a US presidential resort where the US leadership often discusses major decisions or receives important foreign guests.

Former US President Jimmy Carter did this in 1978. At that time, Egypt and Israel had already fought four wars, and he invited the leaders of both sides to Camp David to sign a peace agreement. The two shook hands and made peace in front of Carter, and three senior politicians stood in front of the camera with smiles. Afterwards, all the leaders attending this meeting were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

However, the agreement ultimately failed to establish lasting peace. Some people mock that they should receive an Oscar instead of the Nobel Peace Prize.

The trilateral meeting between the United States, Japan, and South Korea will be the first foreign leader to visit Camp David since Biden took office, and also the first foreign leader to visit since 2015.

The South Korean Central Daily News believes that Biden's decision to hold the US Japan South Korea meeting at Camp David is "sufficient to demonstrate the United States' emphasis on trilateral relations, indicating a significant upgrade in trilateral relations between the US, Japan, and South Korea.".

From the possible topics involved, this meeting is expected to mainly focus on the following four points: consolidating trilateral relations, the Peninsula issue, the issue of Fukushima nuclear contaminated water being discharged into the sea, and containing China.

White House Press Secretary Caroline Jean Pierre previously stated that the trilateral meeting will discuss expanding trilateral cooperation in the Indo Pacific region, including strengthening ties with ASEAN and Pacific islands, as well as addressing the situation on the Korean Peninsula.

Jean Pierre stated that promoting a "rule-based international order and economic prosperity" will be the top priority of this meeting.

Kobe, the strategic communication coordinator of the White House National Security Council, said that it is expected that the three sides will integrate the consensus they have reached and consolidate the achievements of their trilateral relationship through a joint statement.

On August 2nd, the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the three parties are in negotiations on the content of the joint statement, but "no decision has been made yet.".

It is worth noting that Biden will once again run for the presidential election next year, which is his much-needed diplomatic achievement in promoting cooperation between the two allies against China. For Fumio Kishida, this meeting will also be an opportunity to gain support for the Fukushima nuclear contaminated water discharge issue. The Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs is already promoting efforts to prevent the spread of fake news about water treatment.

On the other hand, in South Korea, Yoon Seok yeol seems to be satisfied enough with being invited to the conference itself, as this means that South Korea is seen as an important partner of the United States.

Choi Eun mei, a researcher at the Yashan Policy Research Institute in South Korea, reminded Yoon Seok yeol that the meeting could be used as an opportunity to draw broader global attention to the issue of Japan's nuclear contaminated water discharge into the sea. For example, in a joint statement, concerns about Japan's emissions plan were clearly expressed, and Japan was held responsible for the consequences of the emissions.

A reporter from the English version of South Korea's Central Daily News in the United States pointed out that Yoon Seok yeol's complacency due to being invited is truly embarrassing in Washington. He hopes that Yoon Seok yeol's visit can achieve some diplomatic results for the country, rather than attracting criticism, just like attending an Oskar award ceremony.

The Governor of Chang'an Street noticed that the US's intention to pull South Korea and Japan onto the "Indo Pacific War" and construct an Asia Pacific version of NATO to contain China will inevitably make the situation on the Korean Peninsula more fragile. But the American abacus may not necessarily play well.

Because in the joint effort to contain China, the joint statement of the United States, Japan, and South Korea may be written as a "shared vision", but when read, it appears to be a "distant and distant view.".

Firstly, the military advantage of the United States in East Asia may no longer exist. The latest analysis report from Rand Corporation states that the US defense strategy and situation are no longer solvent, and the US and its allies no longer have a substantial monopoly on technology and capabilities.

That is to say, the effectiveness of the United States' umbrella for Japan and South Korea is declining.

Screenshot of the Rand report

Moreover, the unresolved historical issues between Japan and South Korea make bilateral and trilateral cooperation fragile and unpredictable.

Thirdly, no other country views China in the same way as the United States, and Japan and South Korea have different priority options and attitudes on how to deal with China compared to the United States.

The Sasakawa Peace Foundation of Japan believes that Japan and South Korea have been striving to maintain close communication with China, and are cautious about losing this huge market. They are more willing to adopt a mild approach to dealing with China.

At the end of last year, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning emphasized in response to the US, Japan, South Korea, and Cambodia talks that exchanges and cooperation between countries should help enhance mutual understanding and trust among regional countries, maintain world and regional peace and stability, and should not target or harm the interests of third parties. The Asia Pacific is a hotbed of cooperation and development, not a chessboard for major powers to play. Relevant countries should follow the trend of the times, abandon the Cold War mentality, stop forming "small circles", and prevent any impact on peace and stability in the Asia Pacific region.