Japan's Yomiuri: "Xi Jinping's Visit to South Korea Unlikely This Year... Temperature Gap Between Korea and China"

"Atmosphere Also Suggests Postponement of Korea-China-Japan Summit Within This Year"

Chinese President Xi Jinping [Photo by Reuters]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] According to a report by the Yomiuri Shimbun on the 15th, it appears difficult for major diplomatic events promoted by the South Korean government, such as Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Korea within this year and the trilateral summit among South Korea, China, and Japan, to be realized within this year.

According to the report, an anonymous South Korean government official told Yomiuri that "at this point, there is nothing concrete being discussed between the two governments" regarding President Xi's visit to Korea. The official expressed the view that, with the recent resurgence of COVID-19 this month, it is not a situation to receive a large delegation accompanying President Xi, and that it would be difficult even at the beginning of the year.

Yomiuri analyzed that "the plan for President Xi to visit Korea within this year is being postponed due to reasons such as the response to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19)," and that "President Moon Jae-in's administration, which wants to achieve diplomatic success to raise approval ratings, is being closely watched by President Xi, who is holding the diplomatic card and monitoring the timing carefully, highlighting the temperature difference between the two countries."

Yomiuri reported that South Korea had expected President Xi's visit to be an opportunity to resolve China's retaliatory measures following the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system. On the other hand, China considers a visit by President Xi within this year premature, and Yomiuri analyzed that the timing of the visit will likely be decided amid active tug-of-war among countries over North Korea issues following the inauguration of the Joe Biden administration in the United States.

The newspaper added that the trilateral summit among South Korea, China, and Japan, which South Korea as the chair country had been striving to hold within this year, is also being postponed due to the deterioration of South Korea-Japan relations.

Earlier, on the 3rd, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun also reported that the trilateral summit would not be held within this year due to conflicts between South Korea and Japan over the forced labor issue. In response, Blue House spokesperson Kang Min-seok stated, "There has been no decision regarding the postponement of the trilateral summit among South Korea, China, and Japan."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.