The Reader: Trump must control East Asia power shift

The recent summit between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un was a welcome first step. The outcomes have demonstrated the changing diplomacy and power politics in East Asia, particularly in Japan and South Korea.

Before the summit, the attitudes of US allies significantly differed. However, Japan may now become increasingly keen to negotiate with North Korea to resolve the abductions issue, whereas South Korea is now debating how to stop Washington from promising too much to Pyongyang.

The South Korean government, which has played a huge role in setting up this summit, now risks being bypassed, with the US and North Korea agreeing measures that are not in its national interests, such as halting joint military exercises.

The US President must make sure that America maintains mutual trust with its long-time allies in East Asia.
Hayato Hosoya
Academy Fellow, Chatham House

EDITOR'S REPLY

Dear Hayato

You are right. Attention has focused on Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un but behind that soap opera lie complex relationships between east Asian powers. None has an obvious interest in seeing it happen. China fears a strong, unified Korean neighbour within the Western orbit and with the possibility of US troops on its Yalu river border. Japan, with its painful history with Korea, would also be nervous. South Koreans fear the cost of embracing their cousins but, as with German unification 30 years ago, once the dynamic starts to reunite a country it is hard to stop. That is still a long way off —and many obstacles to peace remain.

George Osborne, Editor

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