South Korea and Japan joined the trilateral cooperation system based on trust in the ROK-U.S. alliance and the U.S.-Japan alliance, and the U.S. has managed to conflict between the two countries. However, the conflict between the Moon Jae-in administr...
South Korea and Japan joined the trilateral cooperation system based on trust in the ROK-U.S. alliance and the U.S.-Japan alliance, and the U.S. has managed to conflict between the two countries. However, the conflict between the Moon Jae-in administration and the Abe administration was more hostile than in the past and threatened the U.S.-ROK-Japan trilateral cooperation. Countries in a quasi-alliance relationship, such as South Korea and Japan, compete for stronger alliance with their common ally, and they have the relative abandonment fear that the common ally is more likely to abandon them than their counterparts. When the fear increases, the country rejects the administration of the common ally since it sees the other as a threat rather than a cooperative partner. It engages in antagonistic behavior toward its rivals and even puts the collaboration of the triangle network at risk. In 2018, Japan's growing relative fear of abandonment stimulated the perception of competition against South Korea. To keep the triangular cooperation system steady, it is necessary to alleviate South Korea and Japan's perception of competition.