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In recent years, it has also become popular in international political circles to "reach out and not hit smiling people". No, Korea has recently frequently shown goodwill toward China, and has also taken the initiative to extend an olive branch and invite Chinese leaders to attend the APEC summit in United States in November this year.
This is no ordinary "face project". You know, at the APEC summit held in United States last year, China sent its top leader to attend, giving the host enough face.
If the Chinese leader "appreciates" the APEC summit hosted by Korea again, it will be of great significance, which is equivalent to giving Yoon Seok-yue enough face, and it also means that Sino-South Korean relations may have to "break the ice".
Speaking of which, China-South Korea relations have indeed been a bit "indescribable" in recent years. Since Yoon Suk-yeol came to power, Korea has firmly fallen to the United States, and all kinds of "pro-American" operations are simply dazzling:
Allowing United States nuclear submarines to dock at Korea ports, giving up responsibility for Japan's aggression in World War II, and forming a "small circle" with the United States and Japan, with a posture of "working against China."
Naturally, the Chinese side is not used to it, and it will not be soft when it is time to beat. Xing Haiming, former Chinese ambassador to South Korea, openly called on certain Korea politicians, "Don't bet that China will lose and United States will win."
This remark has also sparked a lot of discussion in Korea, and many people have begun to reflect, is it really good to follow the United States "one road to the black"?
Perhaps it felt the pressure, or perhaps its own interests were affected, anyway, since the second half of this year, Korea's attitude towards China has obviously "softened" a lot.
No, the foreign ministers of China and South Korea have met three times this year, and the frequency of these meetings is simply unimaginable in the past few years.
In particular, at the recent meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, Korea Foreign Minister Cho Te-yeol called it "enthusiastic" and praised the importance of Sino-ROK relations in front of Foreign Minister Wang Yi, and also said that he would continue to strengthen practical cooperation.
This attitude, compared with the hard-line style of the previous Yoon Suk-yeol government, is simply like two people. Of course, the reason for the change in Korea's attitude can be seen by anyone with a discerning eye.
Korea's economy is too dependent on China. China has been Korea's largest trading partner for 19 consecutive years, and in the past two years, due to the epidemic, the international situation and other reasons, Korea's economy has declined seriously.
The United States side is also unreliable. Biden will run for re-election next year, and it is still unknown whether he will succeed, and even if he succeeds, there may be adjustments in foreign policy.
On the Japan side, the approval rating of Fumio Kishida's cabinet continues to decline and may "step down" at any time.
To put it bluntly, Yoon Suk-yeol bet on the "US-Japan-South Korea Alliance" before, but now it seems that the risk is too great, and if it is not, it will be "a bamboo basket for nothing". Instead of putting all your eggs in one basket, it is better to quickly repair relations with China and leave a way back for yourself.
Of course, if Korea wants to improve its relations, it is not enough to just pay lip service, but also to take practical actions.
For example, on the Korean Peninsula issue, instead of counting on the unreliable "nuclear umbrella" of United States, Korea should communicate more with China, because maintaining peace and stability on the peninsula is in the interests of all parties and Korea itself.
All in all, China-South Korea relations are now at a delicate "turning point". The APEC summit is a litmus test. If Yoon Suk-yeol really figured it out and wants to improve relations between China and South Korea, then show sincerity and talk to China.
The APEC summit is, to put it bluntly, a "starting point", and what China and South Korea are really concerned about is the Korean Peninsula issue.
In recent years, the situation on the Korean Peninsula has been in a state of "tension". North Korea has launched several missiles every once in a while, and has also made public its uranium enrichment facilities, making it clear that it wants to work against the United States and South Korea.
Korea is sandwiched in the middle, and that is called a "pins and needles". Although he has the support of United States "nuclear umbrella", he still has no bottom in his heart. After all, if you really want to fight, Korea is the first "battlefield" to bear the brunt.
Under such circumstances, Korea naturally hopes that China can play a greater role in persuading the DPRK to "calm down" a little, and also hopes that China will consider Korea more on the peninsula issue.
China, for its part, has also been working hard to maintain peace and stability on the peninsula.
At the latest meeting between the foreign ministers of China and the ROK, Foreign Minister Wang Yi made it clear that United States deploying medium-range missiles in the region to undermine regional peace and stability is not in the interests of regional countries. There should be no war or chaos on the Korean Peninsula, and maintaining peace and stability on the Peninsula is in the common interests of all parties.
These words are both a "knock" on Korea and a "promise" to Korea.
What is "beaten" is that Korea should stop following the United States and "fool around" and hurry back to the correct track of "dialogue and negotiation."
What China "promises" is that China will continue to work for peace and stability on the peninsula and for Korea's legitimate concerns.
Of course, there are some differences between China and South Korea on the Korean Peninsula issue. For example, Korea wants China to put more pressure on North Korea to abandon its nuclear and missile program;
China, on the other hand, believes that the root cause of the Korean Peninsula issue lies in United States, and that only by United States changing its hostile policy toward the DPRK can the Korean Peninsula issue be fundamentally resolved.
These differences cannot be eliminated in a short period of time. However, as long as China and South Korea can maintain communication and enhance mutual trust, they will certainly be able to find a solution to the problem.
After all, China and the ROK are neighbors that cannot be moved, and only by working together can we maintain peace and stability on the peninsula and achieve common development and prosperity.
Of course, in addition to geopolitical considerations, economic factors are also crucial for China-South Korea relations to truly warm up. After all, in international relations, there are no permanent friends, only eternal interests.
In the past few years, despite the stumbling political relations between China and South Korea, bilateral economic and trade cooperation has maintained a certain degree of resilience. China has been Korea's largest trading partner for many years, and Korea's trade surplus with China has remained at a high level.
However, with the changes in the international situation, especially the impact of Sino-US trade frictions, China-South Korea economic and trade cooperation is also facing some new challenges. For example, some companies Korea worried about "taking sides" between China and the United States, about losing the Chinese market, and about being sanctioned by United States.
In this regard, the Chinese side has repeatedly stressed that China and the ROK have close economic ties and intertwined interests, and hopes that the ROK side will have a clear understanding of the situation and safeguard the overall situation of economic and trade cooperation between the two countries.
Korea, on the other hand, has gradually realized that "decoupling" from China is not in its own interests. After all, China has a huge market and a complete industrial chain, and is an indispensable partner for Korea's economic development.
At the recent meeting between the Chinese and ROK foreign ministers, Korea Foreign Minister Cho Tei-yeol made it clear that the ROK is willing to strengthen economic and trade cooperation with China and jointly promote regional economic integration.
This sends a positive signal, indicating that Korea hopes to take into account economic and trade cooperation with China while safeguarding its own interests.
Of course, there are also some problems that need to be resolved in China-ROK economic and trade cooperation. For example, issues such as market access and intellectual property protection that Korea companies are concerned about require further communication and negotiation between the two sides.
All in all, China-ROK economic and trade cooperation is the "ballast stone" of bilateral relations, and only by strengthening cooperation can we achieve mutual benefit and win-win results, and can we provide a more solid material foundation for the development of bilateral relations.
In general, China-South Korea relations are at a "crossroads". On the one hand, both sides are aware of the importance of improving relations and hope to strengthen communication and resolve differences. On the other hand, the two sides still have differences on some issues and need to be further tempered.
The APEC summit has provided a rare opportunity for dialogue between China and South Korea. If the two sides can seize the opportunity and communicate frankly, it may point out the direction for the future development of bilateral relations.
Of course, the future of China-South Korea relations ultimately depends on the choices of both sides.
If Korea can truly return to balanced diplomacy, adhere to independence and self-determination, and not choose sides, China-South Korea relations can return to the track of healthy and stable development.
If Korea continues to tilt "one-sidedly" toward United States or even participate in United States' strategy of containing China, Sino-ROK relations will inevitably be seriously damaged, and ultimately Korea's own interests will be harmed.
"Distant relatives are not as good as close neighbors", this is an old Chinese saying. As neighbors separated by a strip of water, only by respecting each other and treating each other as equals can China and the ROK achieve common development and make greater contributions to regional peace and prosperity.
Resources:
APEC Economic Leaders' Informal Meeting - Baidu Encyclopedia
Wang Yi meets with Korea Foreign Minister Cho Duyeol - CCTV News2024-09-29 08:06Beijing