By Katherine Coates

With the 11th Trilateral Foreign Ministers’ Meeting between Korea, Japan, and China, it seems that President Trump’s tariffs have alienated key U.S. allies in East Asia.According to Yuyuan Tantian, a Chinese state-affiliated Weibo account connected to CCTV (China’s state broadcaster), China plans to purchase chip products from Japan and South Korea while exporting semiconductor raw materials.

CCTV has a history of controversial reporting. In 2015, Swedish human rights worker, Peter Dahlin was arrested for “threatening national security,” and CCTV aired a scripted and coerced confession. The network has also described the Uyghur detention camps as “vocational training centers” aimed at fighting extremism. 

In contrast, the statements from Japan and Korea give a much more reasonable explanation of the trilateral meeting. According to Japan’s Trade Minister Yoji Muto, the meeting was “just an exchange of views,” emphasizing a shared goal to promote “regional and global trade.” 

South Korea’s Press Release No. 10693 notes that Japan and Korea met separately on March 22, 2025, prior to their meeting with China. The two Ministers expressed a desire to “enhance Korea-Japan and Korea-U.S.-Japan cooperation on the global level.” 

Furthermore, Japan’s Minister in charge of Economic Revitalization of Japan, Ryosei Akazawa, met with Scott Bessenet, Howard Lutnik, and Jamieson Greer on April 11th to continue negotiations with the U.S. The two countries reached several conclusions:

(1) Both sides will engage in consultations in a candid and constructive manner, with the aim of reaching an agreement at the earliest possible opportunity so that the leaders can announce it.

(2) Both sides will arrange the schedule with the aim of holding the next consultation within this month.

(3) Both sides will continue the consultation at the working level in addition to at the ministerial level.

Just a day later, on April 12th, Rysoei Akazawa personally spoke with President Trump in which the U.S. leader reportedly stated “that the consultations with Japan are their top priority.” This indicates that a new U.S.-Japan trade agreement may be imminent. 

Korea and Japan have both expressed their support for the United States over China. However, they also have maritime borders with the second most powerful country in the world (according to GDP). It only makes sense to have balanced diplomacy. All three countries are members of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) which promotes free trade across Asia. Together, China, Japan, and Korea make up roughly 80% of the RCEP’s total GDP. By ignoring trade with its regional neighbors, Korea and Japan would lose out on potential economic growth. 

Despite what China’s state media may proclaim, the trilateral meeting is simply a continued discussion of trade between neighboring countries. Korea and Japan both maintain a clear preference for the U.S. despite their geographic and economic realities that require cooperation with China. Understanding diplomacy must require us to look beyond propagandist headlines.

Ryosei Akazawa