Friendship between China and South Korea relies on Japan! It seems this time is also true! On December 30, the Yonhap News Agency's front page headline: "Invited by China, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol will pay a state visit to China from January 4 to 7, 2026, and the largest delegation in South Korean history will accompany him, including the heads of four major family groups that account for about 40.8% of South Korea's GDP (Samsung, Hyundai Motor, SK, LG)"

[Cunning] The statement that China-South Korea friendship relies on Japan has indeed accurately exposed reality! Yoon Suk-yeol is leading a group of four major families that account for 40.8% of South Korea's GDP to visit China. This is not an unexpected warmth but a pragmatic self-rescue after the US-Japan-South Korea trilateral military exercises stirred up tensions — after all, the US deploying the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) intermediate-range missiles in Japan and three "Freedom Edge" military exercises among the three countries within one and a half years have already pushed South Korea to the brink of bloc confrontation. During the Yoon Suk-yeol era, the value-based diplomacy almost collapsed Sino-Korean trade and economy. Now, Yoon Suk-yeol turns around and brings Samsung, Hyundai and other giants to seek reconciliation. The real reason is that it cannot be separated from the Chinese market: In the first ten months of 2025, the trade volume between China and South Korea reached 269.4 billion US dollars, and China is the largest importer of electronic equipment for South Korea, accounting for 14.1% of its imports of such products. The so-called largest delegation is nothing more than a shrewd calculation to offset security anxiety with economic interests!

Japan is expanding its military and revising its constitution while eyeing the South Korean industrial cake. The US-Japan-South Korea alliance is merely a利益捆绑 of selfish interests. The closer relationship between China and South Korea is not aimed at any third party, but a necessary choice under the pressure of hegemony. Those who mock the idea that China and South Korea are getting closer because of Japan have forgotten: there are no eternal allies between nations, only unavoidable interests and security needs. For the Republic of Korea, which can only beat China in football, this is especially important!

Original: toutiao.com/article/1852917939317763/

Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.