Washington - The White House has declared that the deepening military connections with Seoul and Tokyo are unrelated to Beijing, dispelling claims of the US aiming to forge a 'NATO for the Pacific' directed against China. This statement follows President Joe Biden's proclamation of a 'new era' of security cooperation with South Korea and Japan.
The Camp David summit, hosting Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol, marked a significant milestone, where the leaders collectively embraced novel initiatives encompassing military, economic, and technological domains.
Biden emphasized the symbolic significance of Camp David for this burgeoning era of collaboration, stating, "This is the first summit I've hosted at Camp David, and I can think of no more fitting location to symbolize our new era of cooperation." He reassured the unwavering commitment of the United States to Seoul and Tokyo.
The President further highlighted the intent for the three allies to strengthen their 'trilateral defense collaboration' within the Indo-Pacific region, including the incorporation of 'annual multi-domain military exercises.' These exercises build upon existing periodic wargames in the area, which have elicited concerns from both Chinese and North Korean authorities.
During an earlier media briefing, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan debunked speculations of the partnership evolving into a 'mini-NATO for the Pacific,' affirming that it is explicitly not designed as such. He emphasized that this summit was not aimed against any specific nation.
While Biden maintained that the summit's focus was 'not about China,' he and the allied leaders repeatedly referenced the People's Republic in their statements to the press. In a private meeting with Kishida, Biden pledged joint efforts to address China's 'provocative actions in the South China Sea,' emphasizing the significance of 'peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.'
Addressing concerns about Japan's deepening military ties with the US potentially triggering an 'economic cold war' with China, Kishida affirmed Japan's intention to collaborate with China on shared challenges while demanding responsible conduct.
President Yoon outlined the facets of this newfound defense cooperation, revealing plans to establish a framework for responding to attacks on any of the three nations, alongside real-time sharing of information regarding North Korean ballistic missile launches. He also announced forthcoming regular 'systematic training and drills' to enhance their preparedness.