Foreign Minister's Visit to China After 3 Years... Seeking a Breakthrough in the 'Korean Peninsula Peace Process'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporters Inho Yoo and Jieun Lee] The Minister of Foreign Affairs is visiting China for the first time in three years to hold the Korea-China Foreign Ministers' Meeting. Attention is focused on the aftermath amid the tense inter-Korean and North Korea-US relations due to North Korea's repeated provocations such as missile launches. From South Korea's perspective, the key issue is whether diplomatic negotiations with China can break through diplomatic difficulties and find a breakthrough to promote the "Korean Peninsula Peace Process."

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the 31st, Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong will make a working visit to Xiamen, Fujian Province, China, on December 2-3 at the invitation of Wang Yi, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister. The Korea-China Foreign Ministers' Meeting will be held on the 3rd. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained, "Starting with the Korea-US Foreign Ministers' Meeting, followed by the Korea-Russia Foreign Ministers' Meeting, it signifies the continuation of strategic communication with major countries around the Korean Peninsula," adding, "It will be an opportunity to explore ways to develop bilateral Korea-China relations and to exchange in-depth views on the Korean Peninsula, regional, and international issues."

This is the first visit by a South Korean foreign minister to China in over three years since November 2017. It is also interpreted as an effort to balance diplomacy weighted toward the US, following the Korea-US Foreign and Defense Ministers' (2+2) Meeting held this month and the upcoming Korea-US-Japan Security Chiefs' Meeting this week. During the meeting, the Korea-China foreign ministers are expected to discuss Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to South Korea. Minister Chung confirmed President Xi's willingness to visit South Korea during a phone call with Foreign Minister Wang last month after his inauguration and agreed to promote the visit once the COVID-19 situation stabilizes. Discussions are also expected to expand exchanges between the two countries in celebration of the "Year of Korea-China Cultural Exchange" this year and next year.

However, above all, attention is on whether China will express a strong willingness to actively mediate North Korea relations through this meeting. At a press conference held immediately after the 2+2 meeting on the 18th, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken criticized China but said, "China can play a very important role in persuading North Korea to denuclearize," and at the subsequent US-China high-level talks, North Korea was cited as an area for cooperation with China. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian responded to Blinken's remarks by saying, "China will play a constructive role in resolving the Korean Peninsula issue."

Experts express expectations for China's role based on this atmosphere. Professor Hwang Jae-ho of Hankuk University of Foreign Studies said, "At the US-China Alaska talks, the North Korean nuclear issue was mentioned as one of the cooperation areas," adding, "Through this Korea-China Foreign Ministers' Meeting, South Korea will ask China to mediate, and China will show some cooperation considering US-China relations."

Of course, there is also the possibility that China will engage in passive mediation at the level of requesting restraint from provocations rather than showing full mediation intentions. Shin Beom-chul, head of the Foreign and Security Center at the Korea Institute for Industrial Economics and Trade, said, "Regarding the North Korean issue, China maintains the 'double suspension' principle (simultaneous suspension of North Korean nuclear tests and South Korea-US joint military exercises), which is close to North Korea's negotiation proposal, so it is difficult to demand a mediation role," adding, "However, since China also adheres to the principles of 'dialogue and negotiation' and 'Korean Peninsula stability,' it could be effective in managing North Korean provocations."

Some analysts suggest that as US-China conflicts intensify, South Korea and China are increasing points of contact, and the US will pay close attention to the results of these discussions. Since this meeting is held just over two weeks after the Korea-US Foreign Ministers' Meeting, it implies that the US is wary of China's intention to prevent too close a Korea-US alignment. Furthermore, there are various interpretations regarding China's choice of Xiamen, geographically close to Taiwan, as the meeting venue. It is believed that China’s political calculation is to showcase a "Korea-China cooperation" atmosphere toward both the US and Taiwan.

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