On May 22, the East Asia Institute (EAI) hosted a webinar bringing together distinguished experts representing South Korea, the United States, and China to comprehensively examine the core outcomes and multifaceted implications of the recent US-China summit. The panelists assessed that the summit marked a significant milestone in restoring bilateral relations, which had previously deteriorated to the brink of a new Cold War, and served as a new point of departure toward a constructive relationship grounded in strategic stability. Notably, they emphasized that both nations prioritized the restoration of mutual trust and a phased approach over a singular grand breakthrough, while recognizing the need to keep competition within a manageable scope rather allowing it to become a zero-sum game. Regarding the Korean Peninsula issue, the summit confirmed that substantive policy divergences persist between the United States, which emphasizes the denuclearization of North Korea, and China, which underscores the denuclearization of the entire Korean Peninsula. The participants suggested that amidst this dynamic of US-China competition and cooperation, the salience of trilateral cooperation among South Korea, the United States, and Japan has become increasingly pronounced, making it critical for South Korea to expand its diplomatic space and formulate strategic choices moving forward. 

▪️Date and Time : Friday, May 22, 2026, 09:00 - 10:30 AM

▪️Venue: Zoom Webinar

▪️Language: English

▪️Moderator: Chaesung Chun (EAI, Seoul National University)

▪️Presenters: Jaewoo Choo (Kyunghee University), Robert Ross (Boston College), Yu Tiejun (Peking University) 

■ Sangjun LEE, EAI Research Associate
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