[Correspondent Column] Changes in East Asian International Affairs

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Jo Young-shin] At the decline of the Ming Dynasty, the border barbarian Nurhaci unified the Jurchen tribes and established the Later Jin (Qing) in 1616. At that time, the Ming was internally weakened by eunuch politics. Externally, the nation’s fortune was declining due to frequent invasions by the Oirat and Tatar (Mongols), as well as Japanese pirates. The politically chaotic Ming eventually collapsed due to internal rebellions. The emerging Manchu power, the Later Jin, easily took control of the Chinese mainland. Joseon, failing to properly grasp the East Asian international situation, suffered the calamities of the Jeongmyo Horan (1627) and Byeongja Horan (1636).

About 200 years after the founding of the Qing, the East Asian international situation was shaken again. Western powers such as Britain, seeking tea trade, pushed into the continent. The tea trade led to the Opium Wars. The Qing’s national fortune began to rapidly decline due to the Opium Wars. Only two years after the war began, in 1842, the Qing raised the white flag and signed the Treaty of Nanjing with Britain. Hong Kong territory was ceded to Britain, and the locks on six ports including Guangzhou, Ningbo, and Shanghai were opened.

Afterwards, a continental scramble ensued. Defeated in the Second Opium War, the Qing signed the Treaty of Tianjin (1858) with Britain, France, the United States, and Russia, and again signed the Treaty of Beijing with them in 1860. In 1884, after fighting France, the Qing lost suzerainty over Vietnam, and in 1894, they were defeated in war with Japan. The Qing were merely prey to Western powers.

Seventeen years after the Treaty of Beijing was signed, Joseon signed the Treaty of Ganghwa with Japan. This was a result of failing to properly understand changes in the East Asian situation. Suffering from the power politics of royal in-laws, Joseon thought it sufficient to simply block Western ships from approaching.

After the fall of the Qing, a new political force emerged: the Communist Party. Founded in 1921, the Chinese Communist Party established the People’s Republic of China in 1949. It participated in the Korean War in 1950, playing a role in dividing North and South Korea, and continues to exert influence.

From ancient history to modern times?such as the Goguryeo invasions during the Sui-Tang transition, the Yuan invasions and interference in Goryeo’s internal affairs, and the Jeongmyo and Byeongja Horan during the Ming-Qing transition?whenever there was an imbalance of power on the continent, the Korean Peninsula also suffered the fallout.

Following the implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law last year, the Chinese leadership pushed through revisions to Hong Kong’s election law this year. They show no concern for the worries or pressures from the United States and other Western countries. They have also officially announced a blueprint to raise per capita gross domestic product (GDP) to a middle-income level by 2035. In terms of total GDP size, this means surpassing the United States to become the world’s largest economy. China’s dream (Meng) does not stop at the economy. It has revealed ambitions in science and technology fields such as artificial intelligence (AI), quantum communication, space exploration, and semiconductors. The goal is to compete with the United States through self-reliance and self-strengthening. Military modernization has already been promised to the 1.4 billion people. This is China’s own “My Way.”

In response to China’s unstoppable moves as a major power (G2), the United States appears to be firmly applying the brakes. The Western camp, centered on the U.S., is consolidating, and signs of abnormality are detected again in the East Asian international situation since the end of the Cold War.

Looking back over 1,500 years of history, whenever there was an imbalance of power on the Chinese continent, its repercussions reached the Korean Peninsula. Reflecting on history, China is a country that cannot be trusted. When it gains power, it has the tendency to invade neighboring countries or peoples and to flaunt its strength. Since its system of governance differs from ours, this is even more so. However, we must not close our eyes and ears to China’s changes. Understanding China’s changes is essential to accurately grasp the East Asian international situation.

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