TOKYO: Japan, China and South Korea plan to hold high-level talks in Seoul in late September ahead of a possible trilateral summit meeting this year, Japanese government sources said Thursday.

Beijing is believed to be showing understanding over holding three-way talks, despite its opposition to Japan’s release of treated water from the meltdown-stricken Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant into the ocean.

Senior Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Takehiro Funakoshi plans to attend the meeting from Japan, according to the sources.

The South Korean government, which chairs the trilateral framework this year, will lead efforts to realize a meeting of the three countries’ foreign ministers as well as of their leaders.

The countries had previously hosted annual summit talks on a rotating basis, but a meeting has not been held since 2019 due to the deterioration of Japan-South Korea ties.

But the two Asian neighbors’ relations have improved since the beginning of this year, paving the way for the resumption of the three-way talks.

Beijing is viewed as wanting to engage in dialogue with Japan and South Korea to counter the United States, as Washington has strengthened security cooperation with the two countries with China in mind.

Jiji Press