Joint intervention in the East China Sea was discussed at the Korea-U.S.-Japan Vice Foreign Ministers' Meeting, and the U.S.-China diplomatic talks, which had been delayed, will be held in Tianjin, near the Korean Peninsula.
"It is of no benefit to anyone that North Korea poses a threat in the region and beyond, or a potential humanitarian catastrophe unfolds," said Deputy Secretary of State Sherman during a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the 25th and 26th. It is safe to say that the interests of the two countries are aligned to some extent, and that the two sides will be in a position to seek it." "As the visit to China is very important to the advancement of US interests, we will explore areas where the interests of the two countries are aligned," the spokesperson said on the 21st. .
Prior to the announcement by the US State Department, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Sherman held a joint press conference after the ROK-US-Japan Vice Foreign Ministers' Meeting held in Japan on the 21st, saying, "Korea-Japan diplomacy on freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, attempts to unilaterally change the status quo in the East China Sea, peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, etc. We discussed it with the Vice Minister,” he said, revealing a joint response between South Korea and Japan in the East China Sea (including Korea's West Sea).
In a press release, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan stated, "The three parties exchanged views on China's actions in the East and South China Seas, regional conditions such as the Taiwan Strait and Myanmar situation, and efforts toward realizing a free and open Indo-Pacific," it said. ' announced the operation of the Trilateral Diplomatic Conference.
South Korea announced on the 21st that in a press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the three-party discussion in the East China Sea and the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait was omitted, and that “at the conference, opinions were exchanged on common interests between the three countries, such as the Korean Peninsula issue and regional and global situation.”
The US State Department briefing seems to be trying to approach the threat factor in the East China Sea to North Korea as a “common interest” in the maritime dispute with China.
Deputy Minister Sherman described the results of the trilateral meeting as “a unilateral attempt to change the status quo in the East China Sea.”
Choi Jong-gun, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, said, "It acted as a significant obstacle to the remarks made by the Japanese diplomat in Korea, Soma, in the failure of the Korea-Japan summit at a press conference at the airport departure for the 3rd National Assembly. "It's a big problem if it reveals the truth," he said on the 21st, "I believe that appropriate measures will be taken soon, as we requested."
At a luncheon with JTBC on the 15th, Japanese Minister Soma denigrated President Moon Jae-in's efforts to improve Korea-Japan relations as a sexual term metaphor, and JTBC disclosed it, causing a stir.
The joint statement of the Korea-US summit in May revealed an agreement on “freedom of navigation in the South China Sea” and “peace in the Taiwan Strait,” but did not mention the “East China Sea”.