For their first trip abroad, from March 15 to 18 in Japan, then in South Korea, the American Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, and his defense colleague, Lloyd Austin, send a message of firmness to the China and North Korea. This visit to the two allies of the United States in East Asia, worried about the rise of Beijing, comes on the eve of the meeting, Thursday, March 18 in Anchorage, Alaska, of Mr. Blinken and the adviser. White House National Security Jake Sullivan with Chinese Diplomacy Officials Yang Jiechi and Wang Yi. A meeting presented as “The first round of a boxing match” by Evan Medeiros, former Obama administration and professor at Georgetown University.
In the meantime, Mr. Blinken and Mr. Austin were to discuss in “2 + 2” on March 17 and 18 in Seoul the Chinese and North Korean questions, with the South Korean ministers of foreign affairs and defense, Chung Eui- yong and Suh Wook. Their objective: to win their guests to their firm position, even to convince them to join the Quad, a security framework bringing together, in opposition to China, Americans, Indians, Japanese and Australians. The United States should also plead so that they restore relations with the Japanese neighbor, at a standstill because of memorial issues.
To facilitate discussions, an agreement was to be signed on the US military presence in South Korea. Seoul will increase its contribution by 13.9%, to 1,180 billion won (874 million euros) per year, for the maintenance of the 28,500 American soldiers. The move resolves a problem that plagued bilateral relations during President Donald Trump’s time. However, Seoul is careful not to offend Beijing, a powerful neighbor, an essential trading partner and an important player in the relaunch of the inter-Korean dialogue promoted by the President of South Korea, Moon Jae-in. Demonstrations hostile to the arrival of the two Americans were scheduled for Wednesday March 17 in the South Korean capital.
“Destabilizing behavior”
Seoul’s nuanced welcome contrasts with the warmer one from Japan. In Tokyo, the firmness towards China and North Korea passed much better with the hosts, Toshimitsu Motegi for diplomacy and Nobuo Kishi for defense.
The two sides warned Beijing on March 16 against “Coercion and destabilizing behavior”, especially in the direction of Taiwan, Hong Kong and the Xinjiang region towards the Uighurs. “We are united in the vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific region, where countries play by the rules, cooperate wherever they can and peacefully resolve their differences, Mr Blinken added. If necessary, we will push back China if it uses coercion or aggression to achieve its ends. ” The American side also reaffirmed its “Inflexible determination” to honor the terms of article 5 of the bilateral security treaty, which obliges it to defend the Japanese territories that would be attacked.
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