Diplomatic hits and misses of 2023

China-Japan-ROK meeting

Trilateral foreign ministers' meeting between China, Japan and the Republic of Korea was held in Busan, the ROK, in November. The meeting took place more than four years after the last such meeting in 2019.

Observers and officials noted that although the trilateral governmental dialogue mechanism has witnessed a slowdown in its progress over the four years, the three nations gave a push to the enactment of a 15-member free trade agreement that they signed up for — the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.

At the meeting, the three sides agreed to create conditions for the China-Japan-ROK leaders' meeting and step up relevant preparations.