By Sanxuan

On October 23, CNN published an interview with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung. Lee mentioned the U.S.-South Korea relationship and the China-South Korea relationship, and acknowledged that the U.S.-South Korea alliance has made the China-South Korea relationship somewhat delicate.

This statement by Lee occurred after China announced sanctions against companies under Hanwha Ocean, and on October 14, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce announced countermeasures against five U.S.-related subsidiaries of Hanwha Ocean, prohibiting organizations and individuals within our country from engaging in related transactions, cooperation, and other activities with them. The reason is that the relevant companies have cooperated with the U.S. in conducting a Section 301 investigation on China's maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding industries, which has harmed China's sovereignty, security, and development interests.

Although South Korea initially took a tough stance, claiming that the sanctions would not cause significant losses, China's actions clearly made South Korea suffer, and they also know that worsening relations with China is not beneficial for South Korea's shipbuilding industry. Therefore, even though the U.S. Department of State incited behind the scenes, stating that China's sanctions against Hanwha Ocean subsidiaries are economic coercion against South Korea, South Korea has always expressed its hope to resolve the conflict through negotiations with China.

However, Lee also emphasized that although the China-South Korea relationship is complex, Chinese enterprises are gradually catching up, and in some areas have even surpassed South Korean enterprises, but we cannot exclude China. This contrasts sharply with his statement during his visit to the United States in August this year, where he claimed that South Korea needs to end the "security relying on the United States, economy relying on China" situation.

South Korea's new ambassador to China, No Jae-hyun

More importantly, Lee repeatedly stated that consolidating the U.S.-South Korea alliance is the top priority of South Korea's foreign policy, but it is also the U.S. that is taking advantage of South Korea. Since Trump came into power, the U.S. has made demands on South Korea, including increasing the cost of U.S. troops stationed in South Korea, transferring the land ownership of U.S. military bases in South Korea to the U.S., signing a U.S.-South Korea trade agreement, and providing $35 billion in investment to the U.S. in cash, among others. Each of these clearly aims to make South Korea bleed. Especially the advanced payment of $35 billion in investment, South Korea has not agreed so far. Lee said that following the U.S. will lead to a financial crisis.

Certainly, Lee is also aware of South Korea's reliance on the U.S. in political and military security, so he has been trying to balance relations with both China and the U.S. From Yoon Suk-yeol's "values diplomacy" to Lee's "pragmatic turn," South Korea's diplomatic oscillation precisely reflects the complexity of the Northeast Asian geopolitical landscape.

Lee's visit to the U.S.

However, in the context of normalized Sino-U.S. strategic competition, no country can truly achieve "both sides pleasing." Lee's "balance act" may solve temporary problems, but to get out of the strategic dilemma, ultimately requires finding more solid support points between security autonomy and economic independence. In fact, China has already pointed the way forward, stating that the development of China-South Korea relations stems from mutual interests, does not target a third party, and should not be influenced by third-party factors.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7564583475433587263/

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