Seoul expects Beijing to play ‘constructive’ role on North Korea even as both diverge over sanctions
- South Korea is not expecting China to ‘solve the North Korea problem’ despite urging it to play a more constructive role in ensuring stability, observers say
- While Beijing looks to deepen its friendship with Pyongyang amid tense ties with Seoul, it’s not likely to ‘embolden North Korea to the extent of provoking a new peninsula security crisis’
While strained ties between China and South Korea are unlikely to affect their cooperation when it comes to North Korea, Seoul expects Beijing to do more to fulfil its duties at the United Nations and not shield Pyongyang from sanctions, analysts have said.
Bilateral relations have been on a downward spiral in recent months, particularly after South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol angered China in April by saying the Taiwan issue was a “global” one similar to North Korea.
China’s ambassador to South Korea Xing Haiming fuelled tensions last month after he warned Seoul against “making a wrong bet” in the US-China rivalry, adding that those who bet China would lose “will certainly regret it later”.
South Korea’s overall tilt towards the US strategic orbit has also alarmed, even angered, China, who made it clear after Seoul unveiled its Indo-Pacific Strategy in December that Beijing opposed the establishment of “exclusive cliques”.
Despite the apparent divergence, China and South Korea officially shared similar priorities regarding North Korea, said Leif-Eric Easley, an international studies professor at Ewha Womans University in Seoul.
These included avoiding war, maintaining stability, calling for denuclearisation, offering humanitarian assistance, and encouraging economic reforms.
South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin called on China to play a “constructive role” in curbing the North’s threats, during a meeting with top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi on the sidelines of an Asean meeting in Jakarta last Friday.