Yang Jiechi Visits Korea This Week, Meets Security Officials to Reaffirm 'Korea-China Relations'... Discusses Xi Jinping's Visit to Korea

Interest in First High-Level Face-to-Face Diplomacy Between Korea and China Since COVID-19... Expectations for Full-Scale Discussions on Xi Jinping's Visit to Korea
Also Aims to Check U.S. Moves Toward Korea by Reaffirming Korea-China Relations

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Yang Jiechi, a member of the Chinese Politburo who effectively oversees China's diplomacy, is scheduled to visit South Korea this week to reaffirm China-South Korea relations. Attention is focused on whether the timing of Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to South Korea, which has been sought within this year, will become clearer. If President Xi's visit is realized early, it is expected to be the first face-to-face summit held in South Korea since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

According to diplomatic sources on the 18th, Yang Jiechi is expected to visit South Korea for two days starting from the 20th, which is the most likely schedule, and will have various contacts with the diplomatic and security lines. If Yang Jiechi visits South Korea this week, it is considered significant as it would be the first face-to-face diplomacy between high-level officials of China and South Korea since COVID-19. This visit will be the first by Yang Jiechi in about two years since July 2018.

The main focus is the timing of President Xi's visit. The South Korean and Chinese governments have continuously consulted to arrange President Xi's visit within this year, but progress has not been made due to the spread of COVID-19. A diplomatic source explained, "It is interpreted as a visit to reaffirm China-South Korea relations," adding, "The timing of President Xi's visit is also expected to be discussed." Some expect that President Xi's visit will take place by around November at the latest.

As Yang Jiechi is one of the 25 members of the Politburo, the highest leadership body of the Chinese Communist Party, it is highly likely that broad discussions related to the situation on the Korean Peninsula will follow President Xi's visit schedule. He is known to be scheduled to meet with Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha and his counterparts, including Suh Hoon, Director of the National Security Office at the Blue House.

There are numerous pending issues between the two countries. For South Korea, this could be an opportunity to restore China-South Korea relations, which have not been fully resolved since the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system in 2016. In particular, it could serve as a direct opportunity to request China's cooperation in easing the rapidly deteriorated inter-Korean relations since June, following North Korea's demolition of the Kaesong joint liaison office.

Yang Jiechi's visit also appears to reflect the Chinese government's intention to balance the United States by engaging with South Korea. Amid the expanding all-out conflict between the U.S. and China, it is interpreted as a strategy to check the U.S. moves toward South Korea. The U.S. government, in particular, has brought up discussions on South Korea's New Southern Policy and its linkage with the U.S. Indo-Pacific strategy, including South Korea's participation in the Economic Prosperity Network (EPN), an anti-China bloc.

Already, in July, the U.S. sent Steven Biegun, Deputy Secretary of State and Special Representative for North Korea, to South Korea for a 3-day visit. During his visit, Deputy Secretary Biegun met with the First Vice Foreign Minister and the head of the South Korea peace negotiation team to exchange views on the situation on the Korean Peninsula as well as regional issues including U.S.-China relations and South Korea-Japan relations.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs maintained a cautious stance on the day, stating, "There is nothing to confirm."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

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