Chinese state media all reported on the 16th that President Yoon Seok-yeol had embarked on a visit to Japan amid criticism of “humiliation diplomacy.”
The media emphasized the urgency of visiting Japan, saying, “There is no time for President Yoon to neglect the deteriorating relationship between Korea and Japan any longer.”
In addition, the media reported that Lee Jae-myeong and Democratic Party representative criticized President Yoon’s diplomacy with Japan on the eve of the visit, saying, “Korean nationality has fallen to the ground and seems to be ridiculed by Japan.”
The Global Times, published by the People’s Daily, the official newspaper of the Chinese Communist Party, pointed out that the biggest concern is whether the South Korean president’s first visit to Japan in 12 years will finalize the issue of forced labor between the two countries and improve relations.
At the same time, the media observed that even if the issue of forced labor is resolved under pressure from the United States, it will be difficult to significantly improve bilateral relations because the historical conflict between Korea and Japan will not be healed.
In addition, the media, citing Korean media outlets, predicted that a joint declaration would not come out at the summit because it would be difficult for both sides to organize their positions and write a joint declaration due to lack of time.
In particular, the media showed a passive view when President Yoon pointed out that strengthening Korea-Japan cooperation would help to promote stable economic relations with China.
Liaoning Provincial Academy of Social Sciences Director Lü Chao, an expert on the Korean Peninsula, told the Global Times, “Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said he welcomed President Yoon’s solution, but it seems that Japan has not received a positive response.” Major media outlets also evaluated that the news of President Yoon’s visit to Japan was not being dealt with in a special way.
Lüqiao argued that the United States is actually showing the most enthusiasm for the Korea-Japan summit, and that he is trying to further solidify the two alliances for the purpose of putting forward an anti-China strategy.
He even instigated that even if an agreement was reached on the issue of forced labor due to President Yoon’s visit to Japan, the possibility of a rapid recovery of relations between the two countries in a short period of time is small, but rather, the hostility between the people of the two countries could intensify.
Lüqiao warned that what Japan and the US are really aiming for in terms of improving Korea-Japan relations is to establish a guaranteed mechanism for exchanging and sharing military information between Korea, the US and Japan.
At the same time, Lüqiao warned that President Yun should not deviate from independent diplomacy and blindly follow US strategy or act for the interests of the US and Japan, harming stability and security in Asia and sacrificing national interests.
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.