US, Japan and South Korea launch economic-security talks before Xi summit

The United States, Japan, and South Korea convened economic-security consultations on Monday, aligning their stance on stability in the Taiwan Strait as Chinese President Xi Jinping prepares to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump. Secured during a brief gathering at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, the three nations pledged to resist economic coercion, non-market policies, and export restrictions that distort markets and create industrial overcapacity.

They also reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen an existing trilateral supply-chain early warning system. Ahead of their summit with Trump, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will meet with the U.S. president on Tuesday, providing him with an early glimpse of Beijing's priorities. Beijing remains unnamed in the trilateral statement, but the emphasis on economic coercion, industrial overcapacity, and export restrictions signals ongoing concerns over China's economic practices.

The statement also calls for enhanced cooperation on semiconductors and stronger protections for critical and emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence and biotechnology. As the U.S. and China engage in their own economic talks, Washington and Beijing are also negotiating trade and artificial intelligence matters. The trilateral statement stresses the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and supporting Taiwan's participation in international organizations.

The three countries also emphasized their commitment to freedom of navigation and overflight in the Indo-Pacific, in accordance with international law. On energy security, they aim to bolster regional supply resilience by increasing oil stockpiles and encouraging international cooperation. The discussion also touched on North Korea, reaffirming their commitment to the peninsula's complete denuclearization and urging Pyongyang to rejoin diplomatic talks.