Neighbors Stick Together

The election of Yoon Suk-yeol as new president of the Republic of Korea (ROK) has triggered concerns regarding future relations between China and the ROK. These concerns mostly stem from Yoon’s tough talk against China. For example, he called for the deployment of additional U.S.-manufactured Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system units in the country. But it is normal for a candidate to solicit votes by making sensational pledges, which may not necessarily be honored after they assume office. No matter which political camp is in power in the ROK, China-ROK ties are expected to strengthen.

China is the largest trading partner of the ROK, with bilateral trade volume hitting $300 billion last year despite the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, China and the ROK are each other’s largest source of foreign students, and the number of mutual visits reached 10 million annually at their peak. The two countries have seen their interests closely intertwined and become each other’s critical strategic partner.

“China and the ROK are not adversaries, but partners with converging interests, a lot to offer each other and much uptapped cooperation potential,” State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said at a press conference on March 7.

While meeting with Xing Haiming, China’s Ambassador to the ROK, Yoon stressed that his People Power Party has always attached importance to China-ROK relations, as evidenced by the fact that the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1992, when the party’s predecessor was in power in the ROK. He expressed the hope that both countries would take the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations as an opportunity to further intensify high-level exchanges, strengthen cooperation, and enhance friendship.

This is the first time Yoon has made a relatively comprehensive statement on China-ROK relations after his election. It’s clear that the president-elect highly values bilateral ties and is confident about their future.

China and the ROK share deep historical and cultural bonds. Over the past three decades, China-ROK relations have made strong strides, not only delivering tangible benefits to both peoples, but also contributing to regional and global stability, peace and prosperity. The two governments are therefore duty-bound to keep bilateral ties on an upward spiral.

Currently, China and the ROK together face a turbulent international environment and the impacts of COVID-19 as they attempt to move bilateral relations forward. In the future, other challenges will likely emerge, too. But the countries are neighbors that cannot be separated. As long as they work together with mutual respect and meet each other halfway, they will be able to overcome difficulties and obstacles.

The author is head of the Trilateral Cooperation Studies Center at Shandong University. This is an edited translation of his article first published in China Report.