China, South Korea and Japan maintain summit amid rising regional divide

Leaders from China, Japan and South Korea will on Monday will maintain their first trilateral assembly in additional than 4 years, as Beijing seeks to counteract U.S. efforts to work intently with Tokyo and Seoul — two main American allies within the Asia-Pacific area.

The assembly underscores the balancing act that Tokyo and Seoul are attempting to strike as they attempt to navigate the financial and navy competitors between Washington and Beijing: Though Japan and South Korea are safety allies of the US and have stepped up joint navy drills within the area, in addition they depend on China as their largest buying and selling companion.