China’s top diplomat calls for race-based alliance with Japan, South Korea.

China Urges South Korea and Japan to Form Alliance for East Asia

China’s top diplomat, Wang Yi, has called on South Korea and Japan to join forces with Beijing in a race-based alliance to “revitalize East Asia.” Speaking at the 2023 International Forum for Trilateral Cooperation, Wang emphasized that Americans struggle to differentiate between the three countries. He stated, “No matter how you dye your hair blonde or lift your nose tip, you can never become a Westerner.”

Wang stressed the importance of unity among China, Japan, and South Korea, urging them to “prosper together, revitalize East Asia, revitalize Asia, and benefit the world.” He also criticized certain major countries outside the region for exaggerating ideological differences and attempting to replace cooperation with confrontation.

However, Wang’s remarks may not resonate with South Korea and Japan, as they maintain close military partnerships with the United States. Both countries rely on their alliances with the US to counter China’s growing influence and address the security threat posed by North Korea. The US stations over 80,000 military personnel between Japan and South Korea, and the two countries have conducted numerous trilateral military operations.

While experts criticized Wang’s statement, highlighting the significant differences between China and the two countries, they also pointed out that many Japanese and South Koreans become American citizens. Jeff M. Smith, director of the Asian Studies Center at The Heritage Foundation, wrote, “The irony of … Wang Yi telling Japanese and Koreans ‘you can never become an American’ is that Japanese and Koreans become Americans every day. They’re part of the fabric of America. What they can’t become is Chinese. Tone deaf.”

Bonnie Glaser, Asia Director of the George Marshall Fund of the United States, expressed skepticism about Wang’s message, questioning whether he truly believes that appearance is more important than national interests. Meanwhile, a South Korean individual responded to Wang on Twitter, stating, “If aliens invade, we will join hands with the aliens and attack you.”

It is worth noting that Wang downplayed historical differences between the three countries, such as China’s involvement in the Korean War and Japan’s occupation of China during World War II, which continue to contribute to tensions in the region.