Korea should focus on protecting national interests
South Korea and China have agreed to realize a visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to Seoul as soon as safely possible after the COVID-19 pandemic dies down. The agreement was made during a meeting between President Moon Jae-in's national security adviser Suh Hoon and Yang Jiechi, a member of the Central Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC), in Busan, Saturday.
Suh and Yang concurred on the need for the two nations to cooperate closely in fighting the coronavirus, and to conclude a second-phase free trade agreement and a Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) treaty within the year.
The agreement which was the outcome of six hours of discussions holds significance as it can be a breakthrough in long-stalled bilateral relations. China has yet to lift its economic retaliation against Korean companies and its halt to tourism here after Seoul allowed the United States to deploy a missile defense system, called the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), on South Korean soil.
Xi's visit has been sought to upgrade bilateral relations by getting rid of the barriers between the two neighboring countries. Expectations have also been growing over Beijing's possible role in improving inter-Korean relations. The two nations also need to expand flight routes and the issuance of visas which have been contracting amid the pandemic.
For Korea, however, the meeting can be burdensome in light of souring relations between the U.S. and China. Bilateral tension has been intensifying over trade issues and military tension in the South China Sea.
The U.S. has been pressing Korea to join the Economic Prosperity Network (EPN) while seeking to expand the deployment of the missile defense system here, possibly to target China. Against this backdrop, experts share the notion that Yang might have asked Seoul to take a stance more favorable to the Chinese side.
This means the U.S. will likely put more pressure on Korea regarding the China issue. We call for the government to maintain the principle of “balanced diplomacy” without siding with a certain nation. Maintenance of the alliance with the U.S. is essential as the backbone of our security. Yet keeping friendly ties with China is also essential as it is our top trade partner, in addition to its role in inter-Korean affairs and regional stability.