Mutual trust is missing between the supposed security partners. The South Korea Navy committed a dangerous hostile act against Japan's maritime force in 2018.
Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada had fruitful meetings with his American and South Korean counterparts but China's General Li Shangfu was in a pugnacious mood.
Aggressive talk on Taiwan from Chinese Defense Minister Wei Fenghe stole headlines, but there were also signs of rapprochement between Japan and South Korea.
