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Enemy, Homager or Equal Partner?: Evolving Korea-China Relations
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- Authors
- Issue Date
- 2012-12
- Citation
- Journal of International and Area Studies, Vol.19 No.2, pp. 47-62
- Keywords
- Korea-China Relations ; Strategic Cooperative Partnership ; North Korea ; the U.S.- China Relations ; Strategic Thinking
- Abstract
- Since the formal establishment of South Korea (hereafter, Korea)-the Peoples Republic of China
(hereafter, China) relations in 1992, the bilateral relationship has recorded tremendous success in
terms of trade volume, cooperation on the North Korean nuclear crisis, and the magnitude of
exchanges in various areas. However, it is also true that the bilateral relations still remain far from
satisfaction in terms of depth and degree of communication, crisis management, and a shared vision.
Given Koreans psychological alertness and apprehension formed over a long history of contacts with
China, differences in political system, mutual misperceptions, and degree of understanding, these
problems cast serious challenges for future relations between the two countries. In the future, Korea-
China relations could be sour and bumpy if the Korean government relies excessively on securityoriented
approaches, centering on its alliance with the U.S.
Korea needs to exercise a creative middle power-pragmatic diplomacy in dealing with China.
The objective is to establish a positive-sum game in the Korea-China strategic cooperative partnership,
extending consultation and cooperation beyond security issues on the Korean Peninsula. Both the
Korea-U.S. alliance and the Korea-China strategic cooperative partnership should be the foundation
of Koreas diplomatic assets, under which Korea would try to persuade North Korea to abandon its
nuclear program.
The substance of Korea-China relations will be determined by the policies of each government to
consolidate the cooperative strategic partnership. Sound communication, political will, and
strategic management matter. The future relationship of Korea with China is at the crossroad among
the ranges of being enemy, homager, or equal partner. Korea obviously favors the establishment of an
equal partnership with China, based upon the common principles of mutual respect, cooperation, and
co-prosperity.
- ISSN
- 1226-8550
- Language
- English
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