[Column] Principled diplomacy is the key with China

Ryu Yeri

The author is a visitingprofessor at Gyeongsang National University’s Department of Intellectual Property Convergence.

Starting Jan. 2, the Yoon Suk-yeol government suspended issuing short-term visas to some arrivals from China by exercising its sovereignty to fight the Covid-19 pandemic. The visa restrictions were extended once at the end of January, but they were lifted from Feb. 11 — 40 days after the visa suspension — based on scientific reasoning as the ratio of infected travelers from China fell to 1 percent after the Lunar New Year holidays. China also seems to be taking corresponding measures.

The Yoon administration’s decision to impose short-term visa restrictions against China was decisive and swift. (The previous Moon Jae-in administration couldn’t even think about it). After Beijing suddenly lifted its draconian Covid-19 restrictions last December, it caused hundreds of millions of Chinese to get infected with the virus in a short period of time. After the Chinese nevertheless started to travel overseas en masse, 16 countries imposed reinforced quarantine measures on arrivals from China.

Since Korea has more arrivals from China than from other countries, it had to strengthen quarantine measures. And yet, China abruptly stopped issuing short-term visas to arrivals from Korea starting Jan. 10. It was certainly an unscientific — and emotional — retaliation.

There are so many cases in which China had exerted economic pressure against other countries, and each country responded in different ways. While some countries have surrendered to China’s pressure, others stood against them. Some other countries chose to develop technologies on their own and diversify import markets instead of immediately countering China’s retaliatory steps.

The Yoon administration must stay away from the low-profile diplomacy with China persistently employed by the past administration. It must respond to China’s economic pressure through a long-term strategy to deal with China’s pressure. The current government must break away from the precedents of the previous one, which lethargically succumbed to China’s pressure aimed at hurting Korea’s economy. To this end, it is necessary to draw up an action plan to tackle China’s economic pressure and make it clear to not only the Chinese government but also the Korean people.

First, the Yoon administration must accurately decipher China’s intention. Since the Chinese garlic war of 1999, we have been traumatized by China’s economic retaliation. As a result, the government often would not engage in severeign diplomacy for fear of possible Chinese retaliation.

As China is well aware of Korea’s sensitive reaction and its trauma, Beijing habitually abuses retaliatory cards. What we really need is a calm and cool-headed response to China’s flexing its muscles.

Second, we must maintain a clear principle. The latest decision by the Yoon administration to suspend short-term visas to Chinese entrants was an emergency measure it had to take in order not to repeat what the previous administration did in early 2020. At that time, the Moon administration imposed weak quarantine measures on arrivals from China. If the Yoon administration had done the same again, our public health system may have collapsed.

So, it is necessary to send a clear message to China that we will exercise our sovereignty to protect lives and safety even if economic retaliation is expected. Also, the government should tell China that it had lifted the visa restriction not because it feared China’s economic retaliation but because it made a scientific judgment.

Third, the government must strengthen cooperation with allies and friends. China tends to ignore countries that assume a low profile. Korea must overcome the fear of economic retaliation from China. To this end, it must closely cooperate with countries that are keeping their distance from China in terms of economic security. We have friends and allies such as the United States, Japan and the European Union and other trade partners we had signed free trade deals with. We also must actively participate in the U.S.-led Indo-Pacific Economic Framework.

Furthermore, the government must nurture and support key strategic technologies including semiconductors and batteries, on which China must rely on Korea. The government should devise an effective support and compensation program for industries that are targets of China’s unfair economic pressure. Seoul also must increase foreign currency reserves to brace for China’s retaliatory steps in the future. The Yoon government must stand firm to maintain its diplomatic principles against China like it is doing now.

Translation by the Korea JoongAng Daily staff.