U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Besson will hold pre-negotiation talks in Seoul on Wednesday to finalize agreements before President Trump visits China [1].
The meeting occurs as South Korea expresses concern over a "Korea-passing" strategy, where the host nation is excluded from high-level diplomatic discussions on its own soil [2].
Besson began the diplomatic circuit in Tokyo, where he met with Japanese Finance Minister Katayama Satsuki on Tuesday [1]. Following the Tokyo meeting, Besson is scheduled to travel to Seoul to engage in a "pre-negotiation" session with Chinese Vice-Premier He Rigong [1].
These discussions are timed for the day before the president's scheduled departure for China [1]. The goal of the Seoul meeting is to settle key terms of an agreement that will be presented during the presidential visit [2].
Despite the venue being Seoul, reports indicate that South Korean officials have not been invited to participate in the talks [2]. This exclusion has prompted criticism regarding the U.S. administration's approach to its regional allies during the lead-up to the China trip.
Local reports from YTN said the meeting is a critical step in preparing for the diplomatic encounter in China [1]. The lack of Korean involvement in a meeting held within its own capital highlights a growing tension over how the U.S. manages trilateral, and multilateral, economic interests in East Asia [2].
“U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Besson will hold pre-negotiation talks in Seoul”
The decision to hold high-level U.S.-China-Japan negotiations in Seoul while excluding South Korean officials suggests a transactional approach to diplomacy. By utilizing Seoul as a neutral venue without granting the host country a seat at the table, the U.S. may be prioritizing rapid agreement with Beijing and Tokyo over the diplomatic sensibilities of Seoul, potentially straining the U.S.-South Korea alliance.
