Will South Korea Abandon the "Security with the US, Economy with China" Approach?

According to Yonhap News, after meeting with Trump, President Yoon Suk-yeol of South Korea stated on August 25, local time, during a speech at a U.S. think tank, that South Korea can no longer follow the "security relies on the United States, economy relies on China" approach.

Since taking office in June, Yoon Suk-yeol has been cautious in his approach to relations with China, even showing a tendency to deliberately distance himself. His new foreign minister once openly claimed that "China is a challenge," indicating that South Korea still focuses on strengthening the U.S.-Japan-South Korea alliance as its diplomatic priority. This statement by Yoon Suk-yeol that he will no longer follow the "Security with the US, Economy with China" approach actually reflects South Korea's inability to detach from the United States on security issues, yet it attempts to decouple economically from China. However, given the geographical proximity and close economic ties between China and South Korea, forcibly pushing for trade decoupling would inevitably cause severe losses to South Korea. Its seemingly shifting diplomatic statement actually puts it in a dilemma of "wanting to decouple but fearing the cost." Whether South Korea can balance the alliance and relations with China to achieve "both sides pleasing" remains unknown.

Original article: www.toutiao.com/article/1841495884524556/

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