China-ROK Relations in Xi Jinping Administration

Abstract

This thesis deals with China-ROK relations in the first term of Xi Jinping administration. It raises three research questions, including did China-ROK relations at the initial stage of Xis administration (2013-2015) break the bridle of hot economy and cold politics as Chinese state media commented? , what kind of factors contributed to the downturn of bilateral relations since 2016?, and whether there are any Korean policy adjustments in Xis era? For the first question, it argues no significant progress has been made in either military or political arena in spite of more frequent high-level exchanges. For the second question, it maintains that both domestic (the intrinsic nature of conservative governments like Park Geun-hye government) and external factors (US factor and North Korea factor) played a role in the downturn of bilateral relations since mid 2016. For the last question, it asserts that the visible changes in Xi Jinping administration are Chinas increasingly hard-line stance toward North Korea nuclear development, and more initiative in improving its economic and cultural ties with the South, while in effect, these changes do not contradict with the guideline of Chinas Korea policy, namely to maintain peace and stability, and to enhance its influence in Korean Peninsula. Therefore, the article argues that fundamentally, Chinas Korea policy in Xi Jinping administration has not changed, and there are only tactical changes in specific approaches.