SOUTH Korea’s Ambassador to Washington Cho Hyun-dong says South Korea will soon engage with China at the senior level while also seeking the opportunity for diplomacy with the trilateral cooperation with Japan and China.
In an event hosted by Washington’s Center for Strategic and International Studies, Cho said that the COVID-19 pandemic halt high-level exchanges with China, and a new foundation of relations with its number one trading partner is necessary.
However, Cho expects China to have some negative reactions to Korea’s heavy diplomatic engagements with Japan and the United States, particularly the Washington declaration that was agreed upon at a summit last week by U.S. President Joe Biden and Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol.
It can be remembered that China expressed their strong dissatisfaction regarding President Yoon Suk-yeol’s statement on the situation in the Taiwan Strait, in which Yoon said that the Taiwan issue, like the issue of North Korea, is a global one.
“The Taiwan issue is not simply an issue between China and Taiwan, but like the issue of North Korea, it is a global issue,” said President Yoon Suk-yeol, South Korea.
In late April, the Chinese Foreign Ministry filed a complaint with South Korea over ‘erroneous’ remarks made by Yoon.
Prior to this, Beijing had earlier called on Seoul to,
“Abide by the One-China Policy and handle the Taiwan issue prudently,” said Wang Wenbin, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman.
Despite this, Cho assures to engage with China while also stressing maintaining a good relationship between Seoul and Beijing.
A joint message by economic leaders from Japan, China, and South Korea issued this week said they recognize the importance of strengthening economic and trade relations in order to bounce back from the pandemic and to prepare for future issues.
