In a bid to strengthen ties and counter growing influence from the West, China's top diplomat, Wang Yi, has called on Japan and South Korea to cultivate a sense of "strategic autonomy" and collaborate with Beijing to revitalize Asia, CNN reports.
These remarks come amidst escalating tensions between China and the two neighboring American allies.
During a trilateral forum held in Qingdao, Wang addressed Japanese and South Korean guests, emphasizing the need to recognize their distinct identities.
He stated, "No matter how blonde you dye your hair, how sharp you shape your nose, you can never become a European or American, you can never become a Westerner. We must know where our roots lie." Wang urged Japan and South Korea to join forces with China to prosper together, revitalize East Asia, and benefit the world.
Wang's comments were made on the sidelines of the International Forum for Trilateral Cooperation, an annual event organized by Beijing, Tokyo, and Seoul since 2011. During the forum's opening ceremony, Wang called for Japan and South Korea to promote inclusive Asian values, nurture a sense of strategic autonomy, maintain regional unity and stability, resist the return of Cold War mentality, and remain free from the coercion of bullying and hegemony.
China's push for closer collaboration with Japan and South Korea comes as Chinese leader Xi Jinping seeks to expand Beijing's role on the global stage through an assertive foreign policy, which has strained relations with neighboring countries and the West.
In response to China's increasing influence, the Biden administration has intensified efforts to unite allies and partners to counterbalance China's rise, particularly with South Korea and Japan, two crucial allies in Asia. Security concerns regarding North Korea have further strengthened their trilateral ties, leading to joint military drills and joint statements on tensions in the Taiwan Strait, which have drawn criticism from Beijing.
During the forum, Wang criticized "certain major powers outside the region" for exaggerating ideological differences to sow confrontation and division for their own geopolitical gains. He cautioned that such a trend would not only interfere with trilateral cooperation but also escalate tension and confrontation in the region.
The event saw the participation of South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin and Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi through video links, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
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