"Korea-China Summit, 25 Minutes Marked by Clear Possibilities and Limits... The Future Is What Matters"

Reaffirming the Importance of Bilateral Relations... Emphasizing Communication and Cooperation
Xi: "Close Neighbors, Inseparable Partners"
Differences Remain on North Korea Issue... China Cautious About Indo-Pacific Strategy

[Asia Economy Reporters Inho Yoon and Heejun Jang] President Yoon Seok-yeol and President Xi Jinping met. It was the first face-to-face meeting between the two leaders and the first Korea-China summit in three years. Although the meeting physically lasted only 25 minutes, it is evaluated to have shown various possibilities. It is seen as a positive signal in that it reaffirmed the importance of bilateral relations and laid the groundwork for resuming exchange and cooperation that had been virtually severed.

However, a clear difference in stance on key issues, including the North Korean nuclear problem, remains a challenge. Experts noted the significance of opening a channel for dialogue amid the intense US-China hegemonic competition, while also emphasizing the importance of using this opportunity to resolve the numerous pending issues between Korea and China. There is also a forecast that the direction of Korea-China relations will depend on how Korea’s Indo-Pacific strategy is set in the future.

"The significance lies in Korea and China meeting... Should use this as an opportunity to resolve pending issues"

President Yoon Suk-yeol and Chinese President Xi Jinping shake hands at the Korea-China summit held at a hotel in Bali, Indonesia, on the 15th (local time). [Image source=Yonhap News]

Jung Young-tae, Chair Professor at Dongyang University, said in a phone interview with Asia Economy on the 16th, "This Korea-China summit is significant in itself for putting bilateral issues, including security on the Korean Peninsula, on an official dialogue table," and evaluated, "We could glimpse China’s willingness to form a new relationship with the Yoon Seok-yeol administration."

The two leaders reaffirmed the importance of bilateral relations at the summit, which took place for the first time in three years since December 2019. President Yoon emphasized, "We will cooperate for a mature Korea-China relationship based on mutual respect and reciprocity," while President Xi responded, "Korea and China are inseparable close neighbors and partners."

Experts particularly viewed the '1.5-track dialogue channel' as a communication platform that will help resolve the numerous issues between the two countries in the future.

Professor Jung analyzed, "(The proposal for the 1.5-track dialogue channel) acknowledges from China’s perspective that Korea is an important entity that cannot be unilaterally ignored or excluded," adding, "It can be seen as expressing the intention to develop Korea-China relations beyond mere pleasantries into more concrete exchange and cooperation, and further into a closer relationship."

Joo Jae-woo, Professor of Chinese Language at Kyung Hee University, said, "Although overshadowed by the North Korean nuclear issue, many problems have accumulated between Korea and China during the three years of interrupted dialogue," and added, "In this situation, the proposal to establish a dialogue system is a very desirable choice and will be a positive signal in that it calls for proceeding with the second phase of the Korea-China Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations and high-level economic talks."

President Yoon proposed the 'regularization of high-level dialogue' between the two countries at this summit. President Xi expressed agreement and suggested establishing a 1.5-track dialogue system involving both government and private sectors. The fact that both leaders emphasized 'communication and cooperation' throughout the meeting is expected to serve as a turning point to open the way for resolving the numerous pending issues between Korea and China.

Currently, Korea and China have agreed to restart the diplomatic vice ministerial strategic dialogue, which had been suspended due to the spread of COVID-19, and to upgrade the diplomatic and defense 2+2 talks, previously held at the director-general level, to the vice ministerial level. Attention is focused on whether this summit will trigger full-scale discussions.

Clear difference in stance on 'North Korea issue'… Xi checks Korea’s strengthening ties with the US

Kim Jong-un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea [Photo by Yonhap News]

There were also clear limitations. A clear difference in views was shown on the key agenda of North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats. President Yoon pointed out North Korea’s repeated provocations and urged China to play a more active role. However, President Xi gave a general response, saying, "We must protect peace," and "We hope Korea will improve inter-Korean relations."

Regarding the current administration’s denuclearization roadmap, the 'Bold Initiative,' President Xi added the caveat "if North Korea responds." At the US-China summit held the previous day, President Xi also expressed the existing view that North Korea’s legitimate concerns should be addressed in a balanced manner.

In the end, unlike Korea, which expected China’s role, China made Korea the subject and revealed a clear difference in perspective. However, considering China’s position that it cannot ignore its relationship with North Korea, it is interpreted that responding with phrases like 'protecting peace' was the best option. Some also evaluate that the mere fact that the two leaders met amid the highest military tension on the Korean Peninsula sends a 'kind of message' to North Korea.

In addition, President Xi sent a warning to Korea’s diplomatic line, which is strengthening relations with the US. He mentioned accelerating FTA negotiations and said, "We oppose politicizing and securitizing economic cooperation." This is interpreted as a remark to check the recent Korea-US-Japan summit’s decision to expand comprehensive cooperation, including establishing an 'economic security dialogue' based on the common security link.

Especially, President Xi showed a stance of caution toward Korea’s Indo-Pacific strategy. President Yoon mentioned regional issues, saying, "Our government’s diplomatic goal is to pursue freedom, peace, and prosperity of the international community based on universal values and norms," but President Xi countered, "China wants to create genuine multilateralism together and provide more positive energy and stability to the world."

The 'genuine multilateralism' mentioned by President Xi is interpreted not as the dictionary definition of multilateralism but as a countermeasure to the strategy of containing China. By pointing out that US-led bloc strategies such as 'Chip 4,' in which Korea participates, are not normal supply chain construction, it is read as sending a message to Korea to 'not exclude China.'

Korea’s Indo-Pacific Strategy at a Crossroads in Korea-China Relations

President Yoon Suk-yeol attended a gala dinner hosted by the Cambodian President, the chair country of 'ASEAN+3,' on the afternoon of the 12th (local time) at the Tsnoychangba International Convention Center in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and is seen conversing with U.S. President Joe Biden.
[Photo by the Presidential Office]

Diplomatic circles view that Korea-China relations will change depending on how the Yoon Seok-yeol administration, approaching its second year in power, sets the 'Korean version of the Indo-Pacific strategy.' The government has announced it will determine the direction of the US-led Indo-Pacific strategy within the year, and China is paying close attention to this.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the government is reportedly planning to unveil the Korean version of the Indo-Pacific strategy next month through a report and related speeches by Foreign Minister Park Jin at relevant events. It is observed that this will formalize Korea’s Indo-Pacific strategy while strengthening cooperation among Korea, the US, and Japan in the Indo-Pacific region.

A Foreign Ministry official told reporters the day before that regarding President Yoon’s disclosure of the main directions and principles of the Korean version of the Indo-Pacific strategy at the Korea-ASEAN summit on the 11th, "Our Indo-Pacific strategy does not exclude or target any third country," and emphasized, "It aims to promote not only economic security but overall cooperation with Oceania, ASEAN, and Pacific countries, and we will finalize it based on these points."

The government has consistently clarified that it does not exclude or target any third country, considering China, but some predict that regardless of this emphasis, China will react sensitively to check the US.

Kim Jun-hyung, Professor of International Politics at Handong Global University and former President of the Korea National Diplomatic Academy, diagnosed, "The multilateralism China talks about is an expression to check the 'US-led bloc formation,' and can be seen as a kind of warning message to Korea, which is strengthening relations with the US."

He added, "China still sees Korea, which participates in the Indo-Pacific strategy, as a diplomatic partner it cannot exclude for now, but depending on how the content is decided, (the more Korea aligns with the US) China may take a more official and aggressive stance to check Korea."

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