中日韩举行三方会谈

AS IT IS 2015-10-30 Japan-South Korea-China Meet Over Disputes

China, Japan and South Korea will hold their first trilateral meeting since 2012 this weekend.

It will be in Seoul starting at the end of October. The meeting comes as the East Asian nations deal with territorial¹ and historical disputes, as well as economic ties.

Premier² Li Keqiang will represent China at the summit. No explanation was offered for why the heads of state from Japan and South Korea will meet with Premier Li and not with Chinese head of state, President Xi Jinping.

Also, officials in Seoul say South Korean President Park Geun-hye will meet with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on November 2. The two have met before at international events, but have not formally met since taking office.

Abe will be in Seoul November 1 and 2 for the trilateral meeting.

One Japanese newspaper suggested that Japan and South Korea are still negotiating over how to handle the highly disputed “comfort women” issue.

Park, who took office in 2013, had refused to hold a formal meeting with Abe. She had demanded that he offer a “sincere apology” and compensation to the thousands of Asian “comfort women” forced into sexual slavery by Japan’s military during World War II.

In August, Park said she would focus instead on Abe’s promise to uphold past Japanese apologies, including the 1993 Kono Statement. The statement offered apologies and remorse³ to comfort women.

Sides take part in first trilateral meeting since 2012

In 2008, the three major Northeast Asian leaders began to meet yearly, but after 2012 the summits were suspended because of territorial disputes.

China and Japan hold conflicting claims to uninhabited islands in the East China Sea. The islands are called the Senkakus in Japan and the Diaoyu in China. Japan and South Korea have their own continuing dispute over two islets, called Takeshima in Japan and Dokdo in South Korea.

The United States has been urging its two major military allies in Asia to reconcile to improve regional security coordination⁴. 

Japan strongly supports U.S. efforts to protect freedom of navigation in the Pacific and to counter China’s aggressive claims on the South China Sea. 

South Korea has urged all sides to resolve their differences peacefully. Kim Heung-kyu is the director of the China Policy Institute at South Korea’s Ajou University. Kim says South Korea will likely avoid disputed issues during the meeting.

“In the conflict between the United States and China, South Korea prefers to play a role as a negotiator or proposer for stability, peace and cooperation rather than boosting the conflict by standing⁵ on one side,” Kim said.

North Korea expected to be discussed

North Korea is also expected to be an issue for discussion. South Korea and Japan both support the United States’ position that North Korea should halt its nuclear development program. The U.S. says halting the program should take place before new international talks to ease sanctions or increased economic assistance can begin.

However, China may support a more positive approach because of North Korea’s restraint in holding off on missile and nuclear tests.

South Korea and China have also voiced concerns over Japan’s recent security legislation. The legislation permits the military to protect Japanese interests and assist the U.S. in times of crisis. South Korea wants clarification that Japan still needs its permission to enter Korean territory. 

Leaders will also likely discuss the U.S.-led Trans-Pacific Partnership⁶, or TPP agreement. Japan is one of the 12 member countries of the Pacific area free trade agreement. 

South Korea has expressed interest in joining the TPP.  China is not part of the group. The TPP is seen by some as a way to counter China's growing economic power.

Words in This Story

trilateral – adj. involving three groups or countries

sincere – adj. having or showing true feelings that are expressed in an honest way

uninhabited – adj. not lived in by people

1 territorial   

adj.领土的，领地的

参考例句：

• The country is fighting to preserve its territorial integrity.该国在为保持领土的完整而进行斗争。
• They were not allowed to fish in our territorial waters.不允许他们在我国领海捕鱼。

2 premier   

adj.首要的；n.总理，首相

参考例句：

• The Irish Premier is paying an official visit to Britain.爱尔兰总理正在对英国进行正式访问。
• He requested that the premier grant him an internview.他要求那位总理接见他一次。

3 remorse   

n.痛恨，悔恨，自责

参考例句：

• She had no remorse about what she had said.她对所说的话不后悔。
• He has shown no remorse for his actions.他对自己的行为没有任何悔恨之意。

4 coordination   

n.协调，协作

参考例句：

• Gymnastics is a sport that requires a considerable level of coordination.体操是一项需要高协调性的运动。
• The perfect coordination of the dancers and singers added a rhythmic charm to the performance.舞蹈演员和歌手们配合得很好，使演出更具魅力。

5 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

6 partnership   

n.合作关系，伙伴关系

参考例句：

• The company has gone into partnership with Swiss Bank Corporation.这家公司已经和瑞士银行公司建立合作关系。
• Martin has taken him into general partnership in his company.马丁已让他成为公司的普通合伙人。