Korea to ‘expand its role’
Possibility of backlash from China
“Ideological dogma
It won’t ruin the economy.”
The Yun Seok-yeol administration is accelerating its role in expanding its role as a ‘global backbone’, taking advantage of the shortest history of the Korea-US summit.
It is pointed out that the ‘reaction’ from China should be kept in mind as it has decided to stand shoulder to shoulder with other countries, including the United States, using democratic values as its central force.
At a symposium held by the Institute of International Studies at Seoul National University on the 10th, Professor Kim Han-kwon of the National Diplomatic Academy said, “Looking at President Yoon Seok-yeol’s presidential campaign promises and policy directions to date, it is expected that the ROK-U.S. alliance and the South Korea-U.S.-Japan regional security cooperation system will be strengthened.” China’s response to the challenges will increase,” he said.
Professor Kim said, “How far will the Korea-US-Japan regional security cooperation system, including the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF), go in strengthening the ROK-U.S. alliance, and what role Korea will play in the ‘reliable supply chain’ in which the US allies and partners participate? Whether or not to do so is a sensitive challenge factor in Korea-China relations,” he said.
As the US is expecting South Korea to play an active role by forming an economic and security cooperative that effectively excludes China, it is interpreted to mean that it has to manage China’s backlash.
In fact, President Yoon has issued a message that he will not reject China, saying, “I hope that the IPEF will be promoted under the principles of openness, inclusiveness and transparency.”
In response, Chinese Ambassador to Korea Xing Haiming said, “The United States abruptly promoted a new regional economic framework that excludes China, and its real intention is clear.” I hope to keep what I said.”
(From right) President Seok-Yeol Yoon and President Joe Biden of the United States ⓒPresident Seok-Yeol Yoon on FacebookSome argue that economic dependence on China should be reduced quickly, but it is pointed out that economic policies swept by political ideology can backfire.
Sejong University professor Choi Pil-soo, who conducted a 30-year retrospective and evaluation of Korea-China mutual direct investment with Wang Yun-jong, secretary of economy and security at the presidential office (Professor at Dongduk Women’s University), said, “Can’t the Korea-China decoupling be ahead of the U.S.-China decoupling?” “The decoupling between the US and China is “Even following the Biden administration,[US-China]trade and investment did not decrease at all,” he said.
He also emphasized that “there should be no way to think too far ahead of the Korea-China decoupling and fall into an ideological dogma and ruin the economy.”
People waving a five-star flag under a large portrait of the late former President Mao Zedong during a ceremony to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China at Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China, on July 1. ⓒAP/NewsisIt is evaluated that it is necessary to prepare for the possibility of damaging bilateral relations due to the cultural conflict between Korea and China.
Professor Kim Han-kwon said, “After the announcement of the deployment of THAAD, it is necessary to pay attention to the fact that from a conflict of national interest between the ROK and China governments to an unnecessary nationalistic emotional confrontation between the peoples of the two countries. recovery), but if the public sentiment is damaged due to unnecessary nationalistic emotional confrontation, the recovery will be delayed,” he said.
In particular, it is pointed out that the heterogeneity between the peoples of the two countries may become more prominent as China is strengthening its education on patriotism and nationalism in the era of strategic competition with the United States.
Professor Kim said, “In China, patriotism and nationalism and ideological education will continue for political reasons and the will to resist war once morest the United States. I think it will be necessary,” he said.
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