# South Korea Foreign Policy

A New Geopolitical Chill: Beijing Plays the Seoul Card Against a Rearming Tokyo

As Japan’s Takaichi administration pushes for increased military capabilities, Beijing is countering by strengthening ties with South Korea’s new progressive government under Lee Jae-myung. This shift marks a significant reversal in regional alliances, with China utilizing historical grievances and trade leverage to isolate Tokyo and weaken the U.S.-led trilateral security framework.