Driving Factors and Challenges of The China-Japan-Korea Free Trade Area: China’s Perspective

As early as 2002, the leaders of China, Japan and South Korea proposed the idea of establishing a China-Japan-Korea Free Trade Area (CJK FTA), and negotiations began in 2013. However, a series of frictions among the three countries subsequently occurred. Continuously slowing down the progress of free trade area negotiations. When the leaders of the three countries met in May 2024, they once again raised the hope of establishing a free trade area. The initiative that has lasted for more than 20 years has yet to be realized. This paper analyzes the internal motivations for China’s proposal to establish a free trade area and the reasons for its continued failure to realize the plan. It further explores the role of economic and political factors in this process and proposes suggestions on this basis to continue to promote the construction of the China-Japan-Korea Free Trade Area, aiming to further deepen cooperation in East Asia and enhance the overall strength level of the region.