Camp David – Beijing’s anger after joint declaration by Washington, Seoul and Tokyo on liberation

China made its comments on Monday after an unprecedented summit between US, Japanese and Korean allies this Friday August 18 in the United States. “Severe dissatisfaction and determined opposition”and registered objections “to the concerned parties”, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said at a press conference. Beijing accuses the three leaders of havingvilified and attacked China on maritime and Taiwan-related issues; [de s’être] interfered in China’s internal affairs and [d’avoir] deliberately sow discord between China and its neighbours”.

Faced with the strengthening and institutionalization of trilateral cooperation between the US, Japan and South Korea, a Chinese spokesperson said at the summit “An attempt to rekindle Cold War attitudes by fomenting division and conflict through various small closed and exclusive circles.”

Reconciliation

Last Friday, Joe Biden invited Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol to the Camp David presidential residence near Washington, where he later described.“History”. In fact, this is the first time that the three allies have met in a trilateral summit. Until then, they contented themselves with interviews on the sidelines of more important events, most notably at the G7 in Hiroshima.

United against Beijing’s territorial and maritime ambitions in the South China Sea, over which the country claims almost total control, Biden, Kishida and Yun have multiplied demonstrations of cooperation. The joint declaration signed at the end of the summit, called the “Spirit of Camp David”, provides for deeper communication between the three powers, especially by establishing a direct line between the three people, intelligence, weapons and more cooperation in high technologies, as well as a program of joint exercises for several years.

Joe Biden insisted the summit was not aimed at China. “Obviously a title”. The next day, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army launched a new salvo of air and sea maneuvers. “Severe Warning”, Around Taiwan, now accustomed to Chinese intimidation. On the same day, a Chinese Communist Party official justified the move by condemning the August 13 suspension of Taiwanese Vice President William Lai, a favorite in the island’s presidential election next year, in the United States. A member of the Chinese Communist Party made this trip to A “New Provocation” In view “Strengthen partnership with US”.

Repeated intimidation attempts

In this environment of high tensions, consolidating the rapprochement between South Korea and Japan is a major challenge for Washington. Relations between the two countries were complicated by territorial disputes and still painful memories of the Japanese occupation of Korea between 1905 and 1945 and China’s repeated attempts at intimidation. The two Asian allies view Beijing as a serious threat to regional balance. On the Japanese side, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida launched a major review of his defense policy. In Seoul, President Yoon Suk-yeol, elected in May 2022, has called for greater military cooperation with the United States, particularly under the nuclear umbrella.