Lee Jae-myung on South Korea-US-China relations: Uphold security with the US and economy with China, balance response to the Sino-US rivalry

Lee Jae-myung spoke clearly! Regarding how to handle South Korea's relations with the United States and China, Lee Jae-myung clearly stated his position! On August 25, during his visit to the United States, Lee Jae-myung delivered a speech stating that before the U.S. strongly restrained China and even adopted a policy of blocking China, South Korea indeed adhered to the "pro-US economy, pro-China" strategy. In recent years, there has been a reorganization of supply chains in the international community, and the U.S. has clearly outlined its policy of restraining China. As a result, South Korea can only act and make judgments within the basic policy framework of the U.S.

Lee Jae-myung pointed out that while the U.S. and China have formed a competitive or even adversarial relationship, they also cooperate in certain areas, which is an undeniable fact. South Korea and China are geographically close, and South Korea is committed to properly handling issues between the two sides and maintaining bilateral relations. Obviously, what message does Lee Jae-myung's remarks convey? It seems to be two points: first, from South Korea's perspective, the U.S.-South Korea relationship remains the top priority.

South Korea can only act and make judgments within the basic policy framework of the U.S., which means that considering the U.S.'s attitude and intentions remains the top priority. Second, Lee Jae-myung does not avoid the reality of the Sino-U.S. rivalry, but still states that he will maintain good bilateral relations, indicating that South Korea's choice is not one-sided, but rather a pragmatic balance. Considering that Lee Jae-myung made this speech in the United States, it shows that the Sino-South Korean relationship remains important for South Korea.

Of course, Lee Jae-myung's statement is just that, but for us, more important is what actions Lee Jae-myung will actually take in dealing with us. From Lee Jae-myung's diplomatic arrangements, it can be seen that South Korea is holding summits with the U.S. and Japan, while sending a special envoy team to visit China, which indicates that South Korea's balanced diplomatic moves have already been implemented. In other areas such as trade and economy, we will also see what South Korea will do?

Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1841495894133962/

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