What's happened
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun met in Beijing, emphasizing mutual trust, cooperation, and opposition to trade protectionism. Cho urged Beijing to help restart dialogue with North Korea. The visit aims to improve bilateral relations and facilitate Xi Jinping's potential South Korea trip for the Apec summit.
What's behind the headline?
The recent meetings signal China's strategic effort to strengthen its influence in the region amid US-China rivalry. By fostering closer ties with Seoul, Beijing aims to counterbalance US alliances and secure economic and geopolitical advantages. South Korea's pragmatic approach, including the appointment of Roh Jae-heon—whose background echoes historical 'Northward Diplomacy'—indicates Seoul's intent to balance relations with both China and the US. The emphasis on cultural exchanges and diplomatic dialogue suggests a long-term strategy to rebuild trust after years of strain. The potential Xi visit to South Korea could serve as a diplomatic milestone, reinforcing regional stability and signaling China's commitment to regional leadership. However, lingering issues like maritime disputes and anti-China sentiment in South Korea remain hurdles that could influence the depth of cooperation. Overall, this diplomatic dance will shape regional dynamics, with Seoul seeking to navigate between superpowers while maintaining economic stability.
What the papers say
The South China Morning Post reports that both China and South Korea benefit from economic globalization and seek to oppose trade protectionism, with Wang Yi calling for sincere cooperation and mutual trust. Bloomberg highlights Cho Hyun's efforts to involve Beijing in restarting dialogue with North Korea, amid Seoul's broader strategy to improve ties with both North Korea and China. The South China Morning Post also details the historical context of South Korea's diplomatic shifts, including the appointment of Roh Jae-heon, which symbolizes a move towards balancing US and Chinese interests. Contrastingly, some analysts suggest that Seoul's cautious approach reflects underlying distrust, especially given recent maritime tensions and anti-China sentiment. While the Chinese and South Korean governments emphasize cooperation, underlying tensions and regional disputes could influence the trajectory of these renewed efforts.
How we got here
Relations between China and South Korea have fluctuated, especially after South Korea's previous administration aligned more closely with the US and Japan. The current South Korean government under President Lee Jae-myung seeks to recalibrate ties, emphasizing pragmatic diplomacy and cultural exchanges. Meanwhile, tensions over maritime issues and trade disputes have persisted, complicating the relationship. The upcoming Apec summit and Xi Jinping's possible visit are seen as opportunities to reset diplomatic ties.
Go deeper
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Lee Jae-myung is a South Korean politician and attorney who has been serving as Governor of Gyeonggi Province since 2018. Prior to this, he served as Mayor of Seongnam, the tenth largest city in South Korea, from 2010 to 2018.
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Wang Yi is a Chinese diplomat and politician. He formerly served as China's Vice Foreign Minister, Ambassador to Japan and Director of the Taiwan Affairs Office. He has served as the Foreign Minister since March 2013 and a State Councilor since March 2018
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South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea, is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korean Peninsula and sharing a land border with North Korea.
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Xi Jinping is a Chinese politician serving as the general secretary of the Communist Party of China, president of the People's Republic of China, and chairman of the Central Military Commission.
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China, officially the People's Republic of China, is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population of around 1.4 billion in 2019.