Subtle Temperature Differences Between the US and China Over the Ceasefire Declaration, Putting the Korean Government in a Difficult Position (Comprehensive)

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo In-ho] As President Moon Jae-in remains steadfast in his will for a declaration of the end of the Korean War, difficulties are expected in the South Korean government's push for the declaration due to differing stances between the United States and China.

While the U.S. holds a pessimistic view on a declaration of the end of the war without prior denuclearization measures, China has taken on a constructive role following the South Korean government's announcement that it will not consider a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics.

According to diplomatic sources on the 15th, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated on the 14th (local time) that the U.S. is pursuing serious and sustained diplomacy with North Korea, with the ultimate goal being denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

During his Southeast Asia tour, Secretary Blinken said in a lecture at the Indonesian National University that the U.S. will strengthen its efforts to maintain peace in the Indo-Pacific region as it has done for decades and does not want conflicts to arise.

He explained that the reason the U.S. is pursuing serious and sustained diplomacy with North Korea is precisely for that purpose, emphasizing that the ultimate goal is denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

He added that the U.S. will respond to North Korea's nuclear and missile threats with alliances and a practical, coordinated approach while also strengthening assured deterrence.

In this speech, Secretary Blinken did not mention the declaration of the end of the war, which is interpreted as a firm stance against North Korea's attitude demanding sanctions relief before denuclearization measures. The priority is denuclearization measures.

Secretary Blinken stated that the U.S. will strengthen security in the Indo-Pacific and explained that as threats evolve, the U.S. security approach must also evolve.

To this end, he emphasized that the U.S. will pursue a strategy called "integrated deterrence," which closely combines all national power means such as diplomacy, military, and intelligence with allied and partner countries.

Along with this, Secretary Blinken cited security cooperation bodies led by the U.S., such as the Quad and AUKUS, and said that treaty alliances with South Korea, Japan, Australia, the Philippines, and Thailand will be strengthened.

Regarding China, Secretary Blinken urged it to cease aggressive actions in the Indo-Pacific. He emphasized, "There is great concern about China's aggressive behavior from Northeast Asia to Southeast Asia, from the Mekong River to the Pacific Islands."

On the other hand, the Chinese government expressed that it has played a constructive role regarding the declaration of the end of the Korean War. Wang Wenbin, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said at a regular briefing on the 14th that changing the Korean Peninsula armistice system into a peace system is an important component of the political resolution of the Korean Peninsula issue and is a universal expectation of the international community.

He added, "As a signatory to the Korean War armistice agreement, China will continue communication and consultation with relevant countries regarding Korean Peninsula affairs," and "We will continue to play a constructive role going forward."

Meanwhile, there is an analysis that China's participation in pushing for the declaration of the end of the Korean War could be a "double-edged sword."

Jo Han-beom, senior research fellow at the Korea Institute for National Unification, said at the 2022 Korean Peninsula Annual Outlook press conference held at the Press Center on the 15th, "China's stance on the declaration of the end of the war has been ambiguous until now, and this is practically the first time it has officially confirmed its participation," forecasting accordingly.

He predicted, "In the context of intensifying U.S.-China competition, China will try to lead the declaration of the end of the war in a way that reduces U.S. influence on the Korean Peninsula," and "While China's participation may give momentum to the declaration, reaching a consensus on the wording will become more difficult."

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