China pushes for early FM talks with S. Korea, Japan

By Lee Chi-dong
SEOUL, Sept. 4 (Yonhap) -- China proposed holding its annual foreign ministerial
meeting with South Korea and Japan next weekend, but Japan is unlikely to accept
the offer since it has yet to form a new government, a diplomatic source here
said Friday.
"China recently delivered its intention to hold the trilateral foreign
ministerial talks next weekend," the source said. "But chances are very low that
the meeting will be held then. China seems to have thought that Japan will have a
new administration by that time."
"China is in active consultations with South Korea and the transition team (of
Japan) to set a date," the source added.
The three regional powers had initially planned to hold the event on July 25 in
China, which hosts this year's session. They take turns hosting the trilateral
meeting and a summit between their leaders every year, both of which are aimed at
coordinating their policy on North Korea and other global issues.
China, however, postponed the meeting at the request of Japan, which was
preparing for a general election following Prime Minister Taro Aso's decision to
dissolve the House of Representatives. In the Aug. 30 election, the country's
main opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) routed Aso's Liberal Democratic
Party. Japan is expected to announce a new Cabinet when it picks a new prime
minister on Sept. 16. Yukio Hatoyama, head of the DPJ, is almost certain to
replace Aso.
"China appears to want to hold the foreign ministerial talks as early as possible
after Japan appoints a new foreign minister due to its symbolic significance,"
the source said. lcd@yna.co.kr
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