Seoul watching tensions in Taiwan Strait: Envoy

Korean Ambassador to China Chung Jae-ho, left, meets with Chinese Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Sun Weidong at the Foreign Ministry in Beijing on Feb. 14. [MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF CHINA]

Seoul is keeping an eye on escalating tensions in the Taiwan Strait, Korean Ambassador to China Chung Jae-ho told Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong in a recent phone call.

Peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait is a matter of great importance to the region and the international community, Chung said in the call last Thursday according to the Foreign Ministry in Seoul, adding that Korea, along with the rest of the international community, was watching closely the escalating tensions in the Strait.

The call took place a day after President Yoon Suk Yeol’s interview with Reuters, which sparked protests from Beijing.

Yoon in his interview with Reuters on Wednesday referred to “attempts to change the status quo by force” on Taiwan, stressing his resolve to "absolutely" oppose such a change "together with the international community."

The Chinese Foreign Ministry in releasing a statement about the call on Sunday repeated its position that it cannot accept Yoon's statement.

Stressing the one-China policy, Sun was said to have reiterated that the “Taiwan issue is China's own affair, and no force will be allowed to interfere.”

Chung reportedly said in response that Korea maintains its respect for the one-China policy, and requested the Chinese Foreign Ministry address its spokesman’s remarks on Yoon’s comments.

Spokesman Wang Wengbin in a press briefing on Thursday seemingly rebuked Yoon, stressing that China does “not need to be told what should or should not be done” on the Taiwan issue.

Calling Wang’s remarks a serious diplomatic gaffe, Chung said they were “not in line with the spirit of mutual respect between Korea and China."

Sun reportedly said the spokesman was not directly addressing Yoon’s comments in his briefing.

The Foreign Ministry in Seoul in protest of Wang's comments had summoned the Chinese ambassador in Seoul on Thursday.

China's state-run media Global Times on Sunday further criticized this decision, issuing an editorial piece that said, "The problem highly likely lies in South Korean diplomacy."

"These malicious articles in the Chinese media only further alienate China from the international community, and we do not believe the claims they made reflect the position of the Chinese government," said the Korean Foreign Ministry in Seoul on Monday.

BY ESTHER CHUNG [chung.juhee@joongang.co.kr]