Temperature of Korea-China relations

PARK SEONG-HUN
The author is a Beijing correspondent of the JoongAng Ilbo.

A hot issue in Beijing’s Korean community these days is the K-Festa, to be held from Nov. 10 to 12. Around this time of year, Korea’s small- and mid-sized companies and restaurants host the event in downtown Wangjing, Beijing’s Koreatown.

But the location is the problem. Until now, the event was held on the first floor of the shopping town in the middle of the subdistrict. This is an annual event promoting Korean products and selling Korean food. But this year, the authorities did not approve the event for various reasons. In the end, the site was decided to be at a location outside of Wangjing.

It may seem like a trivial issue, but such things are important concerns in China. It is common in China that things which had been routinely handled are suddenly not allowed for unclear reasons. This time, the Chinese authorities’ disapproval of the venue provoked concerns and complaints from the Korean residents. After checking through various channels, I found the outdoor event approval process has been reinforced since March and that the authorities did not approve the event in downtown Wangjing due to safety concerns, as the site had a fire before. But not many people accept it as it is. “What are they up to?” People are anxious about China’s true intention.

But in other parts of China, a friendly mood toward Korean companies can be sensed. Employees and executives of Korean companies in China say that treatment was improving in provincial regions. An official is assigned for each Korean company for individualized management, or the authorities even propose a project. It seems to be a friendly gesture due to the economic slump in China since Covid-19. But it is a good sign that Chinese officials demonstrate a sense of humility amid strengthened cooperation among Korea, the United States and Japan.

On Oct. 11, China released Cheng Lei, an Australian national who was an anchor for the state-run CGTN. As she had been under house arrest for nearly three years on charges of leaking confidential information, Australia continued to make diplomatic efforts for her release. Cheng’s release is interpreted as a sign of thawed bilateral bilateral relations.

The Korea-China relationship has stalled recently. While there are no retaliatory measures as in the time of the Thaad crisis, China cares about sensitive issues such as the approach to the North Korea nuclear program and repatriation of North Korean defectors. South Korea is also working hard to maintain a proper distance from China by sending the prime minister to the Hangzhou Asian Games while strengthening diplomacy with the United States and Japan.

Seven years after the Thaad incident, Seoul-Beijing relations are at a crossroads in establishing a new relationship. China’s crisis is an opportunity for South Korea. Strategies are needed to encourage China to show sincerity regarding the North Korean issues and China’s market opening. If the Korea-China-Japan summit is held later this year, it can be another turning point for normalizing our relations with China.