"Playing with Fire Will Lead to Burning"… Yoon's Remarks Worsen South Korea-China Relations

President Yoon's Taiwan Strait Remarks... China "Mind Your Own Business"
Joo Jae-woo "A Bad Move During Reopening"
Jung Sung-jang "North Korea Will Like It... Be Cautious Like During US Eavesdropping Suspicion"

Relations between South Korea and China are deteriorating as their diplomatic authorities clash over President Yoon Suk-yeol's remarks on the 'Taiwan Strait.' With China reopening the gates it had closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, global countries are expecting economic benefits from the reopening, leading to criticism that President Yoon's comments were not cautious enough. There are also concerns that North Korea's heightened nuclear threats toward the South will increase tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

On the 21st, Qin Gang, China's Foreign Minister, delivered a keynote speech at the Lanting Forum held in Shanghai, stating, "I often hear strange claims that China is challenging the international order and trying to unilaterally change the status quo in the Taiwan Strait by force," adding, "Those who play with fire on the Taiwan issue will be burned to death."

Earlier, in an interview with Reuters released on the 19th, President Yoon said regarding the Taiwan issue, "This tension (in the Taiwan Strait) has arisen due to attempts to change the status quo by force," and added, "We firmly oppose any change of the status quo by force together with the international community."

Wang Wenbin, Spokesperson of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Photo by Yonhap News

In response, China immediately protested. Wang Wenbin, spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, targeted President Yoon during a regular briefing the previous day, saying, "Resolving the Taiwan issue is the business of the Chinese people themselves," and "Interference from others is not allowed."

South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs promptly fired back, calling it "an unacceptable remark and a serious diplomatic insult that calls into question national dignity." They also took the strong step of summoning Xing Haiming, the Chinese Ambassador to South Korea. The Ministry pointed out that Wang's remarks, directed at a head of state, were a diplomatic faux pas and emphasized that China should strive not to cause unnecessary obstacles to the development of Korea-China relations.

Diplomatic circles predict that this clash will further worsen Korea-China relations. Joo Jae-woo, head of the China Research Center at the Korea Institute for National Strategy, said, "With the diplomatic authorities of Korea and China clashing over President Yoon's remarks, dialogue or contact seems difficult for the time being," adding, "China has been trying to engage with countries worldwide following its reopening this year, but it will likely postpone such engagement and relationship improvements with South Korea."

Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Joe Biden
[Photo by Yonhap News]

In fact, the Biden administration, which is competing with China for hegemony, has a policy to reduce dependence on the Chinese economy, but recently Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo have been conducting discussions on Biden's visit to China, responding positively to China's reopening. On the other hand, President Yoon's remarks are seen as revealing 'strategic clarity,' but experts point out that openly supporting one side carries a high risk of losing the other side.

Joo Jae-woo noted, "During China's reopening in 2021, trade volumes with partner countries increased by 120% to 170%, showing China's influence cannot be ignored," and added, "South Korea also enjoyed a trickle-down effect with imports and exports increasing by 140% to 150%." He further said, "This means South Korea may miss out on the economic benefits from China's reopening that the whole world is expecting."

There are also concerns that worsening Korea-China relations could further heighten tensions on the Korean Peninsula. It is pointed out that turning China, which has the greatest influence over North Korea, into an adversary does not serve national interests. North Korea has already declared it will launch its first military reconnaissance satellite this month and continues its military provocations.

Jung Sung-jang, head of the East Asia Cooperation Center at the Sejong Institute, said, "If South Korea and China experience conflict, North Korea will be the biggest beneficiary," criticizing, "Making high-level remarks on the Taiwan issue does not help national interests at all." He advised, "Just as the U.S. eavesdropping suspicions are not heavily politicized for national interests, China, with its complex interests, also needs to respond cautiously."

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