Seoul, Beijing and Tokyo are major U.S. trading partners, although they have been at loggerheads among themselves over issues, including territorial disputes.

Foreign ministers from Japan, China and South Korea sought common ground in areas like aging, low birth rates, natural disasters and cultural exchange at a meeting that took place at a time of growing tensions.

From left: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Japanese Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi, and South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul gather for the Eleventh Japan-China-ROK Trilateral Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, Tokyo, Japan, Mar. 22, 2025.