Tensions High in Asia as China Strengthens Ties with South Korea Ahead of Japan Meeting

Chinese President Xi Jinping and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung are set to meet, aiming to bolster ties amidst rising tensions in the region. The two leaders’ upcoming summit is significant, coming just two months after their last meeting and signaling China’s strategic move to deepen its relationship with South Korea. Sanae Takaichi’s comments about military action if Beijing attacked Taiwan have exacerbated the strained relations between China and Japan, pushing China to emphasize its partnership with South Korea. Kang Jun-young, a professor at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, highlighted China’s focus on South Korea by stating, “China appears…