What made Japan, China, South Korea hold a summit now?

TOKYO -- Japan, China and South Korea will likely hold their first trilateral summit in about four and a half years in Seoul on May 26-27. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Chinese Premier Li Qiang and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol are expected to discuss a range of issues aimed at promoting stability and prosperity in the region.

The last such meeting, held in the central Chinese city of Chengdu in December 2019, was attended by different leaders: the late Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the late Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and former South Korean President Moon Jae-in. But it is not just participants who are different, the international situation has also changed drastically.