US, Japan, and South Korea reaffirm Taiwan support ahead of Trump-Xi summit

Ahead of the historic summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in New York this week, the United States, Japan, and South Korea reaffirmed their support for Taiwan and their joint opposition to China's economic coercion during a multilateral meeting. In international social media posts and official statements, the US side once again emphasized that its defense commitments to Japan and South Korea will not be shaken by any external pressure, and stated that it will continue to promote the "free and open Indo-Pacific" strategy to ensure regional security and economic prosperity. This move not only serves as a prelude to the upcoming US-China summit, but also highlights the military and economic influence of the United States in the Asia-Pacific region.

The US defense commitments are primarily manifested under the two major frameworks of the US-Japan Security Treaty and the US-South Korea Mutual Defense Treaty. The scale of US forces stationed in Japan has expanded to approximately 10,000 personnel, and the transfer of "advanced weapon systems" to the Japan Self-Defense Forces was completed in 2024, enhancing bilateral interoperability in the field of high-tech weaponry. As for South Korea, the United States provides "advanced fighter jets" and "missile defense systems," and has established multiple joint training bases in the country to strengthen defense capabilities on the Korean Peninsula. Under the framework of the US "Indo-Pacific Strategy," these initiatives are viewed as important measures to counter China's expansion in the region.

Facing increasingly intense economic coercion from China, Japan has also accelerated the advancement of its security policy reforms. Since 2018, Japan has raised its defense budget to 2 percent of its gross domestic product and announced the relaxation of the "defense spending cap" in 2023, allowing for more flexible military expenditures. At the same time, the Japanese government has signed multiple agreements with countries such as the United States, Australia, and India under "Eastern security cooperation," emphasizing its security concerns regarding Taiwan. During the meeting, the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that any threat against Taiwan would be considered a challenge to the stability of the entire Asia-Pacific region, and called on the international community to jointly uphold peace and stability under the "One China" principle.

Under dual economic and security pressures, South Korea has maintained the core status of the US-South Korea alliance. In 2023, South Korea signed a "security cooperation agreement" with the United States, which explicitly stipulates that the United States will provide military support in the event of any external threat. Although South Korea and China exhibit a high degree of trade complementarity, the South Korean government has repeatedly expressed support for Taiwan's democratic system on the Taiwan Strait issue and called on the international community to respect Taiwan's right to self-determination. South Korea's military modernization plan also includes sharing high-tech weapon systems with the United States, further consolidating its role in regional security.

In recent years, China has attempted to exert economic coercion on the United States and its allies through the Belt and Road Initiative, technological blockades, and restrictions on critical supply chains. Against this backdrop, the United States has tightened export controls on critical technologies and coordinated "technology security" policies with nations such as Japan and South Korea to prevent sensitive technologies from being militarized. During the meeting, the trilateral nations also discussed how to jointly address China's monopolistic practices in fields such as semiconductors, 5G, and artificial intelligence, and proposed multiple cooperative initiatives to safeguard the diversity and security of global supply chains.

The joint statement by the US, Japan, and South Korea is not only preparatory groundwork for the upcoming US-China summit, but also a clear declaration regarding regional security and the economic order. By strengthening military cooperation and economic counterbalances, the three nations hope to maintain peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region in the face of China's growing influence. For Taiwan, this statement provides a more solid security guarantee and conveys the support of the United States and its allies for Taiwan's democratic system to the international community. As the US-China summit approaches, global attention will focus on the negotiation outcomes between the two major powers, which will in turn shape the future political and economic landscape of Asia and the world. (Source: Central News Agency)