Seoul – President Yoon Suk Yeol of South Korea and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of Japan have showcased a remarkable camaraderie, positioning themselves as the closest leaders in the history of Korean-Japanese relations.
According to Yonhap News Agency, their friendship was prominently displayed at the APEC summit in San Francisco last week. President Yoon referred to Prime Minister Kishida as his "closest friend in the international community," a sentiment warmly reciprocated by Kishida, who expressed their shared affinity for good food and drink. The two leaders also jointly attended a summit discussion at Stanford University.
In contrast, President Yoon's interaction with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the summit was brief, limited to a three-minute exchange of pleasantries. Efforts to arrange a separate summit between Yoon and Xi were unsuccessful, possibly indicating more than just a scheduling issue.
Over the past year and a half, South Korea's diplomatic focus has noticeably shifted away from China and towards the United States and Japan. This change reflects the attitudes of the Korean youth, who increasingly view China unfavorably due to perceived arrogance and heavy-handedness. However, unlike the U.S. and Japan, which strive to maintain close ties with Beijing, South Korea appears to be singularly aligning itself with the U.S., abandoning a more nuanced diplomatic stance.
This binary approach to diplomacy is seen as neither reasonable nor pragmatic, especially given China's significant influence on South Korea's economy and inter-Korean relations. Despite a decline in trade share, China still accounts for a substantial portion of South Korea's foreign trade. Additionally, North Korea's growing closeness to Russia has not diminished Beijing's influence over Pyongyang.
Efforts to restore Seoul-Beijing ties are now emerging, albeit after the recent détente between the U.S. and China. This timing may suggest South Korea's over-reliance on America, a perception it could have avoided by taking the initiative in mending relations with China earlier.
The relationship between the U.S. and China is complex, with Presidents Joe Biden and Xi Jinping needing each other's cooperation on various issues, including trade and conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. Their agreement to maintain open communication and reconnect military lines to prevent accidental clashes reflects an ongoing hegemonic struggle in a multipolar world, with various countries aligning with different major powers.
China's outreach to South Korea presents Seoul with a delicate balancing act. The challenge for South Korea is to engage with Beijing without becoming overly aligned or distant. Lessons from past administrations, like those of Presidents Park Geun-hye and Moon Jae-in, highlight the need for consistent, self-reliant, and flexible diplomacy, particularly in relations with China and North Korea.
Seoul must navigate its diplomatic path carefully, balancing values and principles without letting differences become structural, complicated, or ideological. South Korea's independent stance, free from subordination to other nations, is essential for ensuring its voice and interests are respected by international partners.
The current détente between Washington and Beijing provides both an opportunity and a test for the Yoon administration. Dealing with China requires a skillful blend of straightforwardness and diplomacy.