South Korean President Lee Jae Myung did journalists and commentators a great favor with his encapsulation of his summit with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi: “We were a bit off beat, but tried to stay in sync.” The president was referring to the impromptu drumming session he had with the prime minister, but the metaphor works for their relationship. In fact, that characterization isn’t generous enough.
A relationship that many feared would not survive a truly conservative Japanese prime minister appears to be flourishing. The two leaders have hit it off since their first meeting at last October’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit and have moved past the getting acquainted stage to shuttle diplomacy. Takaichi and Lee share interests and concerns, and their countries — and the wider region, if not the entire world — need them to consolidate a positive, productive relationship. By all accounts, they are doing so.
The two leaders held their third meeting in Nara, Takaichi’s home constituency, amid growing turmoil in regional dynamics. China is taking an increasingly hard line against Japan for Takaichi’s comments stating the obvious: that a crisis in Taiwan, with which China seeks to unite with the mainland, would be a national concern for Japan.
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