The strength of these alliances depends on whether Trump views Tokyo and Seoul as bulwarks against China’s rise or vassals that can be extorted for financial gain.

TOKYO (AP) — Foreign ministers from Japan, China and South Korea sought trilateral cooperation on common ground in areas like aging, declining births, natural disasters and the green economy at a meeting that took place at a time of growing tensions.

From left: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Japanese Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi, and South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul gather for the Eleventh Japan-China-ROK Trilateral Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, Tokyo, Japan, Mar. 22, 2025.