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Kishida’s Final Summit with South Korea’s Yoon

Photo: AFP

The final encounter between South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and retiring Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is expected to be a major diplomatic move. This meeting serves as a message to Kishida’s prospective successors about the significance of preserving solid bilateral relations in addition to demonstrating support for South Korea. Under the influence of U.S. President Joe Biden, Kishida and Yoon have managed to reverse the downward spiral in Japan-South Korea relations, a situation that had reached its nadir due to historical grievances stemming from Japan’s occupation of Korea from 1910 to 1945. Diplomatic and trade tensions had severely strained ties between the two nations for decades.

Kishida’s efforts to mend these relations underscore a strategic alignment with the United States, aiming to bolster regional stability and cooperation in the face of global challenges. However, with Kishida’s impending departure and the upcoming U.S. presidential election in November, the durability of this newly forged partnership is uncertain.
Tetsuo Kotani, a senior fellow at the Japan Institute of International Affairs, emphasized the importance of Kishida’s actions, noting that he must demonstrate to his successors the value of the current trajectory in Japan-Korea relations. This summit serves as a crucial platform for Kishida to advocate for continuity in diplomatic efforts, ensuring that the progress made is not undone by future leadership changes. The outcome of this summit could set the tone for the future of East Asian diplomacy, influencing the geopolitical landscape for years to come.
By Paul Bumman

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