Page 174 - Trilateral Korea Japan U.S. Cooperation

As demonstrated in the previous charts, The United States,
along with its major allies and partners, including Germany,
France, Japan, and Australia, have been engaging in high-level
dialogue with China and seeking ways to expand economic
cooperation with Beijing, while still being very cautious in the
high-tech field.

Evaluation of U.S.-China Dialogue

Viewed within the broader context of overall U.S.-China
strategic competition, the U.S.’s bid to restore high-level
communications with China can be seen as a tactical response
aimed at tackling domestic political agendas (including
the upcoming presidential election) and safeguarding its
economic interests, rather than a fundamental shift in its
China policy. In addition, there is a pressing need to address
the dissatisfaction of key U.S. allies and partners, which stems
from their concerns about diminishing economic interests and
uncertainties that could disrupt the industrial supply chain.
In particular, given the size of the Chinese market and its
production capacity for key raw materials and industrial goods
at their lowest costs, it seems very difficult to find countries
that can replace China in the short term.

The actions taken toward China by U.S. allies and partners in
the latest dialogue phase reflect their desire to strengthen ties
and/or cooperation with the United States while preserving
“strategic autonomy” and maximizing economic benefits from
China, because they have been grappling with the practical
challenges inherent in “decoupling” from China. In March

174 Section III : South Korea-Japan-U.S. Cooperation: How to Deter Pyongyang and Dissuade Beijing