Biden Hosts Japan and South Korea in Camp David Summit to Strengthen Alliance Against China
President Biden welcomed Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol to Camp David on Friday morning to solidify a newly fortified three-way alliance aimed at countering China’s growing assertiveness in the region. This marked the first time Biden has invited foreign leaders to Camp David for a stand-alone session, emphasizing the importance of the meetings.
During a televised introductory session, President Biden expressed his commitment to strengthen the ties between the three democracies, emphasizing that standing together would make the world safer. Both Prime Minister Kishida and President Yoon echoed his sentiments, calling the meeting a historic day and an opportunity to make new history.
The leaders have planned a series of meetings, including a joint news conference at 3 p.m., to announce the outcomes of their discussions. They are expected to sign off on a formal “commitment to consult,” which entails treating any security threat to one of them as a threat to all, requiring mutual discussions on how to respond. Additionally, they will enhance cooperation on ballistic missile defense, conduct annual three-way military exercises, and establish a trilateral hotline for secure communication during crises.
While historic animosities between Japan and South Korea have hindered previous attempts to form a cohesive partnership, President Yoon’s recent moves towards reconciliation with Japan have shifted dynamics in Northeast Asia. Biden administration officials hope to establish a closer and more enduring alignment between the three countries.
However, there are some limits to the emerging entente. Japan declined to join a nuclear weapons planning compact that the United States and South Korea agreed to last spring, citing domestic sensitivities due to its history as the only country to have nuclear weapons used against it. Nevertheless, China has expressed its displeasure with the growing convergence between the United States, Japan, and South Korea, seeing it as a containment strategy against its rise.
China’s economic dominance in the region adds complexity to the shifting partnerships for Japan and South Korea, as China is their largest trading partner. Moreover, Russia and China have drawn closer as the United States and its allies isolated Moscow, creating concerns about Beijing’s intentions towards Taiwan. The trilateral summit between the United States, Japan, and South Korea is not explicitly targeting China, with officials emphasizing that it is an affirmative agenda for a free, open, secure, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.
This three-way accord marks a significant shift in the region’s security landscape, reflecting the changing threat perceptions brought about by China’s rise and Russia’s actions in Ukraine. President Biden has prioritized addressing the challenges posed by China, seeking to build partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region to counter its influence. A stronger collaboration with Japan and South Korea will be a crucial pillar in this strategy.