HANKYOREH

APLN Vice Chair Chung-in Moon wrote for Hankyoreh and argued that the restoration of ROK–China relations should not obscure the strategic differences that continue to shape bilateral ties, calling for a more pragmatic and empathetic approach to managing these tensions while safeguarding South Korea’s national interests.

Earlier this month, I visited Beijing to attend the World Peace Forum at Tsinghua University. Following the forum, I got to join an in-depth discussion of Korea-China relations and Northeast Asian affairs with several Chinese participants at the forum.

There was no disagreement that relations between Seoul and Beijing have greatly improved following Korean President Lee Jae Myung’s state visit to China in January. But there were serious misgivings about Korea’s triumphalist rhetoric about the restoration of bilateral relations.

An issue of universal concern for my Chinese interlocutors was Taiwan, the most central of China’s core interests. While the Chinese appreciate that Lee had endorsed the “One China” principle since the beginning of his presidency, they have viewed some of his more recent actions with suspicion.

A prime example was the deletion of the phrase “China (Taiwan)” (中國臺灣) from the Korean e-arrival registration form. The Korean government explained that the phrase was removed as part of a recent system update, but the Chinese believe the change was due to pressure from Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party.

Another move with which the Chinese took issue was a visit to Taiwan by a Korean parliamentary delegation. The Chinese were particularly annoyed that the delegation included members not only of the opposition People Power Party but also the ruling Democratic Party.

Language in a joint statement issued after Lee’s recent summit with the leaders of the EU was another source of discomfort for China. “We reiterate our support for the freedom of navigation and overflight, including in the South China Sea,” the two sides said in the statement. “We stress the importance of preserving peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and oppose unilateral attempts to change the status quo in the Indo-Pacific.”

The Chinese asked whether it was really necessary for the Korean leader to bring up the Taiwan and South China Sea issues on a trip to Europe.

Read the full article here.

Image: iStock/Aleksandra Aleshchenko.