Page 87 - Trilateral Korea Japan U.S. Cooperation

weapons around the world, and particularly the recent North
Korean military support for Putin’s War in Ukraine. South
Korea, Japan, and the U.S should coordinate diplomatic
actions in international forums to expose and challenge the
full range of Chinese malign activities.

Fourth, the three countries must demonstrate their
capabilities to contribute to the defense of both Korea and
Taiwan. Failing to do so will invite China and North Korea to
mutually support each other’s unification efforts.

These are all actions focused on near-term challenges and
threats. The three countries must also prepare to counter
Chinese attempts to dominate the Korean Peninsula after
Korean unification occurs. The three stated their support
for a free and unified Korea at the Camp David Summit.
This must be more than words. Japan and the United States
should commit to supporting South Korean plans to achieve
unification. Because they are aware of Chinese intentions,
they must now begin to ensure China’s goals are not realized.
In addition to maintaining deterrence and defense and the
readiness to deploy in any contingency, they must prepare the
information environment inside North Korea, within China,
and through the international community to prepare for what
comes next on the Korean Peninsula. They must focus on
human rights and all malign activities and never back down in
the face of Chinese rhetoric and threats.

China seeks to dominate Northeast Asia. South Korea, Japan,
and the U.S. can prevent that and protect their strategic
interests by outmaneuvering China’s political warfare strategy.

86 Section I : North Korea-China Relations: How and Why Does Beijing Protect and Empower Pyongyang?