Trump's threat to free trade brings China, Japan, South Korea closer

Beijing sees opportunity to drive wedge into Washington-led alliance

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, from left, Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya and South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul meet in Tokyo on March 22. © Reuters

YUKIO TAJIMA, RIEKO MIKI and JUNNOSUKE KOBARA

March 23, 2025 04:01 JST

TOKYO/SEOUL -- Geopolitical uncertainty caused by U.S. President Donald Trump's "America First" protectionist policy has added urgency to economic cooperation promised Saturday by foreign ministers from Japan, China and South Korea.

Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul met in the Japanese capital, the first such meeting since 2023.