China closely monitors US-Japan-South Korea's intention to establish 'Asian NATO'

From Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said China opposes "relevant countries gathering small groups together" and "acts that aggravate confrontation and endanger the strategic security of other countries... Relevant countries should follow the trend of the times and do more that is beneficial to regional peace, stability and prosperity."

Lu Chao, director of the Institute of American and East Asian Studies at Liaoning University in northeastern China, said the upcoming US-Japan-South Korea summit on August 18 could lead to the establishment of a three-way military alliance, a move that would cause tension in Beijing.

Liu Jiangyong, a professor of regional affairs at Tsinghua University in China, expressed skepticism about the establishment of a trilateral alliance comparable to NATO. “The three countries do not have the security commitments that NATO members have with each other, while Japan and South Korea are security partners, not allies,” he explained.

In addition, he said, the strategic goals of the three countries are also different. "The US may consider (its goals) from a global perspective, while Japan is mainly targeting China… Meanwhile, South Korea is trying to strengthen security cooperation with the US and Japan to build a greater military deterrent against North Korea." However, he predicted that "joint exercises and trilateral consultations targeting China" will continue./.