“Korea can be a geopolitical player. I hope you will not be reduced to being a henchman of the United States.”
The Global Times, the English version of China’s state-run media Global Times, said in an editorial on the 3rd (local time), “The Korean government is suffering from ‘sleepwalking’ again. President Yoon Seok-yeol did not mention the history of Japan’s aggression or compensation for forced labor and comfort women during World War II in his March 1st speech,” he pointed out.
The Global Times said, “The foreign policy of the Yoon administration seems to have entered a phase of sleepwalking.”
The media said, “Last year, Korea’s trade with China grew by 3%, recording a record high of $310.4 billion (about 405 trillion won), but exports to China in January of this year decreased by 31.12% compared to the same period last year due to a sharp decline in semiconductor exports. It was only $70 million (about 12 trillion won). If this downward trend continues, what will be the driving force for Korea’s continued growth in the future?”
“In the past, South Korea was very careful to maintain a balance between China and the United States, and as a result, it reaped great economic benefits. The Yoon government should know that while the United States provides direct military protection to South Korea, China is an important force in maintaining peace on the Korean Peninsula. If South Korea embraces only the United States and ignores the rest of the world, its security cannot be guaranteed. There may be a situation where you lose your autonomy completely,” he said.
The Global Times said, “Relations between North Korea and South Korea on the Korean Peninsula have again fallen into a state of extreme tension. North Korea has the possibility of arming itself with ‘tactical’ nuclear weapons by carrying out intercontinental ballistic missile tests as well as experiments using multiple rocket launchers, so there is a possibility that South Korea will become a ‘frontline’ again.”
On the 1st, in the waiting room at Seoul Station, citizens are watching President Yoon Seok-yeol’s speech commemorating the March 1 Independence Movement on TV. 2023.3.1/News 1He added, “Korea’s diplomacy has always oscillated between getting closer to its major neighbors and getting closer to the United States. While the Moon Jae-in administration was the driving force for easing tensions on the Korean Peninsula, the Yoon administration turned to the US’ Indo-Pacific strategy. The change in South Korea’s regime under President Yoon Seok-yeol is abbreviated as “pro-Japanese.” I hope,” he concluded.
On the other hand, President Yoon Seok-yeol, in a speech on the 1st of March 1st, defined Japan as a ‘cooperative partner’ and expressed his will to improve relations with Japan. He expressed his determination to improve relations with Japan, saying, “Now, a century after the March 1st Movement, Japan has changed from a militaristic aggressor in the past to a cooperative partner that shares universal values with us and cooperates on security, economy, and global agendas.” revealed
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.