South Korea pivots to ‘hard-line stance’ on China as Yoon questions envoy’s comments
- The South Korean president reportedly said on Tuesday that he doubted whether China’s ambassador, Xing Haiming, ‘has an attitude of mutual respect’
- It comes as local media reported that Seoul was pivoting to a ‘hard-line stance’ in its China ties in response to Beijing’s ‘high-handed’ rhetoric
Yoon made the comment during a cabinet meeting after the Chinese envoy had warned Seoul against making “wrong bets” in the China-US rivalry, Yonhap News Agency reported, citing multiple people who attended the session.
“Looking at Ambassador Xing’s attitude, it’s doubtful if he has an attitude of mutual respect or promotion of friendship as a diplomat,” Yoon was quoted by Yonhap as telling the meeting. “Our people are displeased with his inappropriate behaviour.”
South Korea’s Dong-a newspaper reported on Tuesday that Seoul was pivoting to a “hard-line stance” in its relations with China following meetings between the two where Beijing used “high-handed” diplomatic rhetoric, citing a “key” government official.
Seoul will seek to reduce dependence on China’s supply chains and if needed could change how South Korea defines the “three nos” security understanding with China, Dong-a reported, citing the South Korean official it did not name. Relations between the two have deteriorated due to China’s “absurd” remarks and it’s difficult to pursue common values unless China respects South Korea, the newspaper reported the official as saying.
The South Korean government plans to “de-risk” from its reliance on Chinese goods, such as battery materials, the newspaper reported, emphasising that it wasn’t to the extent of completely decoupling from the world’s second-largest economy.
Xing, the Chinese ambassador, this month told South Korean opposition leader Lee Jae-myung that he would be grateful if the government of current President Yoon freed itself from external factors when dealing with China, likely a reference to Seoul’s deepening ties with the US. Chang Ho-jin, South Korea’s first foreign vice-minister, summoned Xing the following day to issue a stern warning over the remarks it deemed provocative and interfering in the county’s domestic politics.
When asked about the situation, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said the current challenges in China-South Korea relations were “not caused by China”.
South Korea is waiting for appropriate measures from China over the ambassador’s remark, Yonhap said in a separate report, citing an unidentified official in Yoon’s office.