Cables From The Diplomatic Frontlines - The Spirit of Camp David: a historic statement from the leaders of Japan, ROK, and the US.

South Korean - Japanese rapprochement is a monumental achievement for the Biden administration.

• The historic realignment and move towards a military cooperation between Japan and South Korea is a major win for the US diplomacy, and comes at a very important time - when China is growing ever more aggressive.

• And recent developments in China - a threat of deflationary spiral, significant reduction in foreign investment, ballooning youth unemployment (to the extent that officials in Beijing resorted to end the release of the official stats), and a gloomy outlook for economic growth - make it more likely that Xi Jinping will need to increasingly distract the domestic audience by seeking new ground for legitimacy through redirection of the domestic political narrative towards the issue of reunification with Taiwan.

• (side note: and the recent overreaction over Taiwanese VP’s US visit further highlights this point)

• And in the short-term, the Camp David statement comes at the time of a major snub from a country that is an object of the US-Chinese diplomatic contest - the Solomon Islands Premier Manasseh Anasseh Sogovare refused to meet with Rep. Neal Dunn (R-Fla.) and Delegate Aumua Umua Amata Coleman Radewagen from American Samoa - both were visiting as a delegation from the House Select Committee on China.

• Apparently, the Premier “was unable to make time in his schedule” - of course..An absurd excuse, given that nothing (at the time of the Delegates’ visit) was taking place on that Island more important than meeting a US Congressman…

• Unless it was a deliberate snub - which it was.

• So, yes, China did secure a minor win here - but Washington more than compensated with the Camp David announcement (and the news that President Biden will sign a strategic partnership agreement with Vietnam in his September trip).

• But back to the “Spirit of Camp David” - there are a number of observations and inferences we can make about this significant event:

• 1) The Camp David agreement comes with a concrete action plan.