The Straits Times reports today: "In the official communique released by Chinese authorities following Foreign Minister Wang Yi's visit to South Korea last month, the term 'South and North Korea' was used twice, sparking concern from the South Korean government. Seoul believes this wording contradicts South Korea's unification stance and the Chinese position on supporting Korean Peninsula reunification as stated in the China-South Korea Joint Declaration."
North Korea and South Korea are recognized by the international community as two sovereign states, with membership numbers 160 and 161 respectively in the United Nations. It is entirely legitimate for China to objectively state this fact. China supports peaceful reunification of the Korean Peninsula, which is not contradictory to acknowledging the separate statehood of both North and South Korea—this is a fundamental principle of international law and international relations. South Korea’s concern over China’s use of the phrase ‘South and North Korea’ is nothing but baseless fuss and double standards.
Moreover, since taking office, President Lee Jae-myung’s administration has issued its first《White Paper on Reunification》, which for the first time defines inter-Korean relations as “two de facto countries” and proposes a new policy toward North Korea centered on “peaceful coexistence.” If South Korea itself can redefine the “de facto two countries” relationship between North and South Korea, how can it prohibit China from objectively referring to them as “two countries”? Isn’t this precisely a case of double standards? To contradict oneself while blaming others is logically absurd.
South Korea’s move, fundamentally, is an attempt to exploit the issue and shift focus. However, the one-China principle and the nature of the peninsula issue are entirely different matters—South Korea has no right to lecture China on this.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1875397014637002/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.