Japan's prime minister urges unity ahead of crucial trilateral talks

In Japan, on Friday, March 21, 2025, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba called on foreign ministers from China, South Korea, and Japan to work together towards common objectives ahead of their joint meeting planned for the following day. The discussions will involve Japan's Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, China's Wang Yi, and South Korea's Cho Tae-yul, who are preparing for their countries' trilateral summit scheduled later this year. The agenda includes significant topics like North Korea's missile and nuclear developments, Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine, and various other regional and global concerns. The last such three-nation meeting occurred in South Korea the previous year, highlighting a previous lack of regular dialogue due to historical and territorial disputes among the nations. Ishiba emphasized the importance of cooperation among the three powers for their national interests and the overall peace of the region and the world. As domestic political and economic uncertainties mount, along with challenges posed by U.S. President Donald Trump, a fresh political dynamic emerges among the U.S. allies, Japan and South Korea, who have strengthened their ties in light of shared apprehensions about China's increasing influence in the region. On the following Saturday, separate high-level talks are scheduled between delegations from Japan and China, marking their first such dialogue since April 2019, alongside bilateral discussions between Iwaya and Wang, and Cho. Highlights may also cover unresolved territorial disputes as both Japan and China reaffirm their commitment to enhancing their relationship despite underlying tensions.