The NCAFP sent a fact-finding mission to Northeast Asia from October 18 to November 2, 2014. The group visited Seoul, Taipei, Beijing, and Tokyo and met with high-ranking officials in all four cities.
In Tokyo, the group participated in a trilateral U.S.-China-Japan Track 1.5 meeting designed to help ease tensions between Asia’s two largest economic powers, China and Japan. (A separate report on that meeting will be issued in the near future.)
Shortly after the return of the group, there were several positive developments. Presidents Obama and Xi announced at an APEC meeting in Beijing a number of agreements designed to improve trade, travel, and military relations between the United States and China. At the same meeting, President Xi and Prime Minister Abe announced a four-point agreement designed to reset Sino-Japanese relations after a long period of tension over territorial and history disputes. And the North Koreans released two Americans held in custody after a long period of negotiations.
The long-term impact of these developments remains to be seen.
Continue reading the NCAFP Asia Trip Report_November 2014