@article{ART003353212},
author={zhang huizhi and Li Chang},
title={Economic Cooperation among South Korea, China and Japan from the Perspective of Economic Security: Challenges and Prospects},
journal={Journal of Asia-Pacific Studies},
issn={1225-8539},
year={2026},
volume={33},
number={2},
pages={41-81},
doi={10.18107/japs.2026.33.2.002}
TY - JOUR
AU - zhang huizhi
AU - Li Chang
TI - Economic Cooperation among South Korea, China and Japan from the Perspective of Economic Security: Challenges and Prospects
JO - Journal of Asia-Pacific Studies
PY - 2026
VL - 33
IS - 2
PB - Institute of Global Affairs
SP - 41
EP - 81
SN - 1225-8539
AB - Against the backdrop of intensifying geopolitical and geo-economic competition alongside the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, economic security has emerged as a core consideration in national strategic planning, exerting a profound influence on the development of regional economic cooperation in Northeast Asia. As major economic actors in the region, cooperation among the Republic of Korea, China and Japan has inevitably been readjusted amid the trend of securitization of economic issues.Based on the bounded rationality theory, this paper establishes an analytical framework consisting of economic security perception, policy path selection and evolution of cooperation patterns, and systematically analyzes the dynamic impacts of the three countries’ perceptions of economic security on their economic cooperation. The results show that while the three countries share certain common understandings of economic security, their respective perceptions differ substantially. Accordingly, they have adopted distinct approaches and policy paths to safeguard economic security, which has led to marked phased changes in trilateral economic cooperation. To be specific, the cooperation has undergone three stages: an in-depth development phase underpinned by the consensus of "efficiency priority", a constrained development phase dominated by the mindset of "security priority", and a newly revitalized phase driven by recent adjustments in relevant perceptions.Going forward, the three countries need to mitigate practical constraints on cooperation by strengthening high-level dialogues, expanding practical cooperation in low-politics areas, and fostering positive interaction between bilateral ties and trilateral cooperation. Meanwhile, they should further consolidate trilateral collaboration to jointly uphold economic security and accelerate regional economic integration.
KW - Economic security perception;US-China strategic competition;economic competition;South Korea-China-Japan economic cooperation;economic integration
DO - 10.18107/japs.2026.33.2.002
ER -
zhang huizhi and Li Chang. (2026). Economic Cooperation among South Korea, China and Japan from the Perspective of Economic Security: Challenges and Prospects. Journal of Asia-Pacific Studies, 33(2), 41-81.
zhang huizhi and Li Chang. 2026, "Economic Cooperation among South Korea, China and Japan from the Perspective of Economic Security: Challenges and Prospects", Journal of Asia-Pacific Studies, vol.33, no.2 pp.41-81. Available from: doi:10.18107/japs.2026.33.2.002
zhang huizhi, Li Chang "Economic Cooperation among South Korea, China and Japan from the Perspective of Economic Security: Challenges and Prospects" Journal of Asia-Pacific Studies 33.2 pp.41-81 (2026) : 41.
zhang huizhi, Li Chang. Economic Cooperation among South Korea, China and Japan from the Perspective of Economic Security: Challenges and Prospects. 2026; 33(2), 41-81. Available from: doi:10.18107/japs.2026.33.2.002
zhang huizhi and Li Chang. "Economic Cooperation among South Korea, China and Japan from the Perspective of Economic Security: Challenges and Prospects" Journal of Asia-Pacific Studies 33, no.2 (2026) : 41-81.doi: 10.18107/japs.2026.33.2.002
zhang huizhi; Li Chang. Economic Cooperation among South Korea, China and Japan from the Perspective of Economic Security: Challenges and Prospects. Journal of Asia-Pacific Studies, 33(2), 41-81. doi: 10.18107/japs.2026.33.2.002
zhang huizhi; Li Chang. Economic Cooperation among South Korea, China and Japan from the Perspective of Economic Security: Challenges and Prospects. Journal of Asia-Pacific Studies. 2026; 33(2) 41-81. doi: 10.18107/japs.2026.33.2.002
zhang huizhi, Li Chang. Economic Cooperation among South Korea, China and Japan from the Perspective of Economic Security: Challenges and Prospects. 2026; 33(2), 41-81. Available from: doi:10.18107/japs.2026.33.2.002
zhang huizhi and Li Chang. "Economic Cooperation among South Korea, China and Japan from the Perspective of Economic Security: Challenges and Prospects" Journal of Asia-Pacific Studies 33, no.2 (2026) : 41-81.doi: 10.18107/japs.2026.33.2.002
