What does South Korea think of China’s belt and road? It’s complicated
- Seoul’s new ambassador to Beijing was quoted saying his country hoped to ‘actively participate’ in vast infrastructure initiative, prompting denial from foreign ministry
- Mixed messages reflect South Korea’s delicate balancing act as it weighs strategic and security objectives shaped by relationships with US and China
When Jang Ha-sung appeared at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing to present his credentials as South Korea’s new ambassador to China, he might well have expected the formality to proceed without so much as a ripple of controversy.
The event, though, did not go according to plan, instead highlighting South Korea’s delicate balancing act between China and the US – its main trading partner and security guarantor, respectively – after he was quoted expressing support for Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative.
Jang, a former economist with no formal diplomatic experience, and six other incoming envoys on Tuesday told Chinese President Xi Jinping their countries wanted to “actively participate” in the global infrastructure drive after Xi asked for their cooperation, state-run CCTV reported.
South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs denied the report, insisting Jang, who has emphasised the importance of Beijing involvement in securing peace on the Korean peninsula, had never discussed China’s signature infrastructure plans and his remarks had been wrongly conflated with other envoys’ comments.
It was not the first time South Korean President Moon Jae-in’s administration has felt compelled to correct the record on Beijing’s initiative, which calls for vast investment in roads, railways, ports and bridges to create a new Silk Road linking Asia and Europe.
In March, Seoul denied reports South Korean Prime Minister Lee Nak-yeon had called for the joint development of belt and road projects during a meeting with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang.
While offering no ringing endorsement of belt and road, South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs told local media its latest clarification did not indicate it was against the initiative, and it was interested in finding “common areas” in policy between countries. The ministry did not respond to questions from the South China Morning Post about its exact stance.