Donald Trump’s trade war and souring relations with North Korea hamper China’s efforts to reach out to its neighbours
- Efforts to improve relations with Japan and South Korea face additional hurdles while resolving the dispute with the US is the top priority
China’s efforts to reach out to its East Asian neighbours have been hampered by the difficulties surrounding the North Korean peace process and the protracted trade war with the US, according to sources.
Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit Japan for G20 summit on June 28 and 29 in Osaka, and both Japanese and South Korean officials are exploring the possibility of him making a state visit to the two countries.
A South Korean government official said the trade war with the US has given Beijing stronger impetus to improve ties with Seoul and Tokyo.
He said the three Asian economies are planning to hold their annual trilateral summit in Beijing in autumn, and China will use to occasion to appeal to its neighbours, both staunch US allies, for support on trade issues.
But a potential visit by Xi to Seoul, possibly after Osaka, has been put on hold by Beijing due to the uncertainties surrounding both its trade negotiations with the US and the North Korean talks.
