South Korean President Lee Jae Myung recently concluded diplomatic visits to Beijing and Nara, engaging with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, respectively. The discussions focused on enhancing bilateral relations, addressing regional security concerns, fostering economic cooperation, and navigating historical issues amidst evolving geopolitical dynamics in East Asia.
Visit to China
President Lee arrived in Beijing on Sunday, preceding a scheduled meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday. This marked their second summit since November and the first visit by a South Korean leader since 2019. The visit aimed to address bilateral relations, regional security, the unofficial ban on Korean pop culture in China, and stability in economic ties. President Lee also met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang and parliament chairman Zhao Leji, followed by a trip to Shanghai where he planned to hold a memorial service for Korean independence activists.
Addressing Korean residents in Beijing, President Lee stated that his visit was intended to "serve as a new starting point to address current aspects of Korea-China relations, facilitate their restoration, and elevate them to a new level." During discussions, President Lee requested China's assistance in promoting the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. President Xi Jinping, in turn, referenced the historical conflict against Japanese militarism and urged President Lee to make "right strategic decisions." China's engagement with President Lee was observed as occurring within a context of seeking regional diplomatic alignment, with references to shared historical opposition to Japan. South Korea affirmed its adherence to the "One China policy."
Visit to Japan
Following his engagements in China, President Lee traveled to Japan, arriving at Kansai International Airport on Tuesday. This visit marked his first to Japan since August 2025. He met with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in Nara. Discussions began with a small-group meeting followed by a plenary session.
Prime Minister Takaichi welcomed President Lee, stating her view that both countries should collaborate to stabilize the region and develop the Japan-South Korea relationship. She expressed hope for further progress in bilateral ties. President Lee acknowledged Nara's historical role in exchanges between the Korean Peninsula and Japan, emphasizing the importance of cooperation within the evolving international order, 60 years after the normalization of diplomatic relations.
Key agreements and discussions during the summit included:
- Affirming close collaboration towards the complete denuclearization of North Korea.
- Cooperation in trilateral initiatives with the United States.
- Welcoming progress on DNA testing of remains from the 1942 Chosei undersea coal mine disaster.
- Committing to advancing inter-departmental discussions to enhance cooperation in economic security and supply chains.
- Discussing practical measures to sustain future-oriented cooperation based on established "shuttle diplomacy."
In a pre-summit interview with NHK, President Lee indicated numerous areas for bilateral cooperation and common interests, expressing optimism for improved relations. Regarding the Takeshima Islands, President Lee stated concerns among some South Koreans about potential armed conflict due to ongoing territorial claims and emphasized the need for a prudent approach. He also expressed willingness for South Korea to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), identifying the resumption of imports of marine products from eight Japanese prefectures as a crucial step for cooperation.
Regional Dynamics and Geopolitical Context
President Lee's diplomatic engagements occurred amidst ongoing geopolitical shifts. The meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping took place during a period of increased diplomatic exchanges and tensions between China and Japan concerning Taiwan. Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi had previously indicated that Tokyo might activate its self-defense forces if a Chinese action against Taiwan were to occur.
During his visit to China, President Lee noted President Xi's negative stance on Japan's position regarding Taiwan. However, President Lee clarified that South Korea does not intend to be deeply involved in that issue and maintained a neutral stance on the Japan-China dispute, underscoring Seoul's emphasis on its relationships with both Tokyo and Beijing. Earlier, President Lee had offered to mediate between China and Japan to minimize conflict and revive trilateral cooperation, though he refrained from active mediation during his China visit.
China has recently implemented measures affecting Japan, including a ban on exports of certain dual-use items destined for Japan's military and broader restrictions on rare-earth exports, which could also impact South Korean businesses.
Diplomatic Balancing Act and Future Engagements
South Korea maintains a policy of balancing its diplomatic relations with both Beijing and Tokyo. Relations between South Korea and Japan have shown an improving trend, marked by the revival of "shuttle diplomacy" in 2023 and subsequent high-level meetings. President Lee is reportedly aligning with his predecessor's policy of prioritizing future cooperation over past disputes.
Following the summit, President Lee and Prime Minister Takaichi were scheduled to visit the Horyuji temple complex. President Lee will also meet with Korean residents in Osaka before returning to Seoul. A subsequent "shuttle meeting" is planned for Andong, President Lee's hometown in South Korea.