[Vision Forum 2023] Co-existence with China, minilateral cooperation necessary: Yoshihide Soeya

Nov 14, 2023, 04:34 pm

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Yoshihide Soeya, Professor Emeritus of Keio University, delivers a presentation at AsiaToday’s Reception and Indo-Pacific Vision Forum 2023 in celebration of its 18th anniversary held at the CCMM Building in Seoul on Nov. 9, 2023. / Photographed by Jung Jae-hoon

AsiaToday reporter Park Ji-eun

Yoshihide Soeya, Professor Emeritus of Keio University, called for South Korea and Japan’s role to discover a new trilateral cooperation structure that does not include the United States and China, saying, “The cooperation between South Korea, the United States, and Japan, is ultimately aimed at coexisting with China.”

Professor Soeya made the remarks during his presentation at the Indo-Pacific Vision Forum 2023, hosted by AsiaToday, on November 9.

“Japan has traditionally relied on the U.S.-Japan alliance, but the recent restoration of Korea-Japan relations has opened the stage for trilateral cooperation with South Korea and the U.S.,” said the professor, who delivered a presentation under the theme of “Japan and ROK as Equal Partners: The Hub in Regional and Global Minilateral Cooperation.” He said that South Korea is traditionally surrounded by four powers – the U.S., Japan, Russia, and China – and has faced a change due to improved relations with Japan.

Professor Soeya insisted that South Korea and Japan should form a cooperative body with new third countries, such as Australia and India, in order to survive in the new cold war era triggered by the U.S.-China competition. “If we want to live in this region, we must coexist with China. It is an undeniable option,” he said. “Deterrence (against China) is important, but the ultimate goal is to prevent the outbreak of the U.S.-China war and coexist with China,” he said. “We need to create various minilateral frameworks such as Japan-Korea-India and Japan-Korea-Australia.”

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Yoshihide Soeya, Professor Emeritus of Keio University, speaks at AsiaToday’s Reception and Indo-Pacific Vision Forum 2023 in celebration of its 18th anniversary held at the CCMM Building in Seoul on Nov. 9, 2023. / Photographed by Song Eui-joo

“Both South Korea and Japan are surrounded by countries that are independent of the world’s nuclear strategies. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is a clear example,” Professor Soeya said. “It is a critical time for South Korea and Japan to cooperate to protect an advanced democratic market economy. Otherwise, both the U.S. and South Korea will lose big opportunity costs,” he said.

Experts say the third battlefield would be held in East Asia following Russia’ invasion of Ukraine and the war between the Palestinian militant group Hamas and Israel. The largest powder keg in Northeast Asia is the Taiwan Strait. “Like Russia, China is showing an imperialist movement. For this reason, cooperation between regional countries is becoming important, and Korea-Japan relations are at the center of it,” Professor Soeya said. South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol’s attendance at NATO meetings for two consecutive years and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s activity as a partner of NATO is in line with this situation, according to the professor.

“It is important to further normalize Korea-Japan relations in order for the Korea-U.S.-Japan cooperation signed at Camp David in August to work properly,” he said. “The commitment at Camp David should include world issues, such as protecting democracy and handling the global climate crisis.”

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