Taking the China-South Korea relationship forward

By Hamzah Rifaat Hussain

The 30th anniversary of bilateral ties between China and South Korea brings with it plenty of positives for both sides to capitalize on. With a futuristic outlook amid major international developments, the relationship can remain dynamic, peaceful and anchored in mutual respect. Positive and congratulatory messages at the presidential and foreign ministerial level lay the platform for promoting a strategic cooperative partnership in the absence of divisions and trust deficits. 

Facts clearly indicate that there is plenty to build upon. Based on bilateral trade alone, in 2022, China and South Korea benefited from $360 billion worth of trade while mutual investments reached $100 billion. Seoul was also Beijing's third-largest trading partner in 2020, and for eighteen consecutive years, China was South Korea's largest trading partner.

With such historical and contemporary precedents, both sides should strive toward capitalizing on positive trends while dealing with challenges in a constructive manner. For example, sensitive issues remain such as the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), which is an American anti-ballistic missile system designed to shoot down ballistic missiles and deliver destructive power by hitting targets with high velocity.

During a meeting between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his South Korean counterpart Park Jin in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province in 2022, it was agreed that THAAD's deployment will be handled through dialogue mechanisms to ensure that it does not become an obstacle to bilateral relations. Such positivity can be carried forward if attempts to unilaterally provoke the other side are shelved for good. This involves refraining from supporting separatist forces in the Taiwan region or parroting America's playbook on the Taiwan Strait. South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol's response to Nancy Pelosi's visit to Seoul after a provocative one in Taiwan is an ideal example in this regard. Contrary to American expectations, no statement was issued on Taiwan by South Korea.

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (right) meets with Park Jin, minister of foreign affairs of the Republic of Korea (ROK), in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, August 9, 2022. [Photo/Xinhua]

Hence, by allaying concerns regarding the THAAD and other misunderstandings, both China and South Korea can shift their focus on recent attempts at boosting trading ties. This includes developments from the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency meeting in August 2022, which discussed ways to expand exports to China, including auto parts and shipbuilding equipment. This came despite America attempts at dividing Asia into pro-China and anti-China camps.

Similarly, the 2022 Korea-China Logistics Cooperation Forum held in Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, focused on supporting export logistics of South Korean companies, which bodes well for joint cooperation. The logistics companies also discussed how the Incheon-Qingdao Port can be linked through China-Europe freight train services, which is ideal for regional connectivity.

Such sound economic and political decisions are commendable on the part of South Korea in 2022, but the key is consistency in policy making, which must be devoid of politics. Intensification of trading ties with China in 2022, for example, came despite pressure from the United States on its containment policy of Beijing, which has failed miserably, as the majority of countries in East Asia do not believe in antagonizing China. Carrying this momentum forward will provide bilateral incentives to focus on demilitarization, promotion of industrial and technological linkages and greater soft power diplomacy. 

The 30th anniversary of bilateral ties also spotlights the need for greater cultural exchanges between the two countries. Director of the Korean Cultural Center in China and minister-counselor from the embassy of South Korea in China, Kim Jin-gon, during an interview with Global Times, spoke about building "an inseparable and closely bound relationship based on the similarities of their cultures." Such exchanges had been paralyzed by the COVID-19 pandemic internationally.

There is also a need to inform the citizenry in South Korea on the merits of this strong bilateral relationship and address negative sentiments regarding China. Doubts and lingering trust deficits in the population or between governments must be addressed through soft power diplomacy. Depicting the right image of China and setting the narrative straight on what it has to offer will go a long way in cementing bilateral ties even further.

The 30th anniversary of bilateral ties between Beijing and Seoul acts as a reminder to take the bilateral relationship to newer heights.

Hamzah Rifaat Hussain, a former visiting fellow at the Stimson Center in Washington and former assistant researcher at the Islamabad Policy Research Institute, is a TV anchor at Indus News in Pakistan.