China, Japan and South Korea Will Resume Trilateral Talks, but Diplomatic Hurdles Remain

Upcoming talks between China, Japan and South Korea confirm their interest in keeping communication channels open, but the talks are unlikely to spark larger moves that alter recently established regional security dynamics. Representatives from China, Japan and South Korea will meet in Seoul, South Korea, on Sept. 26 to review the status of their trilateral consultative body, the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat, and reinstate the trilateral heads of state summit format. The meeting will be at the deputy foreign minister level, suggesting that the main purpose of the talks is to resume high-level in-person dialogue following the suspension of the secretariat and summit since the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019....