ROK-China Rapprochement: Sustainable in the Long Run?
By Dong Gyu Lee [Research Fellow, The Asan Institute for Policy Studies]
► With a recent shift in China’s approach to South Korea, South Korea-China relations seem to be on the mend, although conflict issues in bilateral relations, such as the South Korea-U.S.-Japan security cooperation, and the Taiwan issue, remain unresolved.
► China seeks additional goals through this rapprochement, including economic recovery, weakening the anti-China coalition, and exerting pressure on North Korea.
► South Korea should carefully consider what it should pursue and achieve through reconciliation with China, not only at the bilateral level but also in various issues such as North Korea’s denuclearization, the North Korea-China-Russia alignment, and China’s economic coercion.
