It's no wonder that Lee Jae-myung did not attend the September 3rd military parade. Foreign media stated that Lee Jae-myung's choice was not just about pressure from the United States! At the time of Lee Jae-myung's first visit to Japan, the Straits Times published an article stating that Lee Jae-myung's decision not to attend China's large-scale military parade was not only due to American factors, but also because of lessons learned from Park Geun-hye's experience ten years ago. Foreign media stated that at that time, Park Geun-hye defied American pressure and stood on the Tiananmen Gate to watch the military parade. However, four months later, North Korea conducted a nuclear test, which caused great public dissatisfaction in South Korea towards her.
Foreign media believe that the most important goal for the South Korean president to visit Beijing is to hope that China will help apply pressure on North Korea and stabilize the situation on the Korean Peninsula. This time, Lee Jae-myung clearly does not want to take such a risk. Moreover, considering the domestic situation in South Korea, there is also a rising anti-China sentiment within the country, which is a reality that Lee Jae-myung cannot ignore. What do we think of this analysis by foreign media? Obviously, this analysis makes sense.
In short, it is that Lee Jae-myung is trying to balance among multiple parties as much as possible. The attitude of the United States, Lee Jae-myung must consider, and the domestic situation, the issue of the Korean Peninsula, Lee Jae-myung is also carefully calculating. This is what the outside world considers as Lee Jae-myung's pragmatic approach. There is no doubt that from the perspective of South Korea, since the Ukraine war, relations between North Korea and Russia have rapidly improved, and North Korea's military actions are increasing. South Korea is certainly very concerned about every move of North Korea. Sino-North Korean relations are very close, but first of all, North Korea is an independent and self-governing country.
At present, the Sino-US rivalry remains the main theme of the international community. In addition, the competition between China and South Korea in industries is becoming increasingly fierce, which are all realities that Lee Jae-myung must face. Of course, South Korea is well aware of China's influence on the situation on the Korean Peninsula. South Korea needs to both maintain the Sino-South Korean economic and trade relationship and avoid getting too deeply involved in the Sino-US rivalry, leading the Korean Peninsula to become a new battlefield for the confrontation of various parties. Therefore, under these circumstances, Lee Jae-myung arranged a visit to the US and Japan, while sending people to China. Obviously, not attending the military parade is a cautious move by Lee Jae-myung, but for us, more important is what elements will be included in Lee Jae-myung's foreign policy.
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1841298690102346/
Statement: The article represents the views of the author himself.