JAPAN PERSPECTIVE

Tokyo is the only country in the pool covering both arms of China's diplomatic offensive simultaneously—the Xi-Cheng Li-wun meeting AND Wang Yi's Pyongyang visit. Kyodo News publishes two separate articles: one on the China-North Korea agreement strengthening ties via Wang Yi and Choe Son Hui, another on the Xi-KMT meeting called "first in a decade." The Japan Times adds a third angle, citing Xi declaring "total confidence" in reunification. Japan, squeezed between the North Korean threat (missiles overflying the archipelago) and the Taiwan question (vital shipping routes for its economy), has the most to lose from this dual offensive. Kyodo News notes Wang Yi's Pyongyang visit aims at "coordination ahead of Trump-Xi summit"—revealing Tokyo reads these moves as Beijing preparing for a summit where North Korea and Taiwan are bargaining chips.