Wang Qishan led a delegation to South Korea to attend the inauguration ceremony of President Yin Xiyue: Why are the specifications higher than before?

Yin Xiyue. Figure / Vision China

Our reporter / Yu Ran

On May 10 local time, Yin Xiyue officially took over Moon Jae-in as the 20th president of South Korea. lt;

“ We wish our friendly neighbor South Korea vigorous development in all undertakings and hope that China ROK friendly cooperation will continue to move to a higher level. I believe that with the joint efforts of both sides, China ROK relations will keep pace with the times and continue to develop” Zhao Lijian said

Since the outbreak of the new crown disease has spread worldwide, it is rare for China to send high-level state leaders to attend the inauguration ceremony of foreign leaders. Compared with the list of American and Japanese guests attending president Yin Xiyue’s inauguration ceremony, China’s specification is also higher. The United States sent only Douglas &middot, the husband of vice president Harris; For the delegation led by emhoff, Japan sent foreign minister Lin Fangzheng to attend

On May 9, South Korean ambassador to China Zhang Xiacheng said at a press conference that judging from the specifications of Chinese guests at the inauguration ceremony of South Korean President in the past, China’s sending higher-level people this time reflects South Korea’s weight, the development achievements of South Korea China relations and China’s expectations for South Korea China relations

More specifications than ever

Prior to the inauguration ceremony of the president of South Korea, China usually sent officials at the level of Vice Premier or state councilor to attend. In 2003, Qian Qichen, then Vice Premier of the State Council, attended the inauguration ceremony of Roh moo Hyun. In 2008, Lee Myung Bak’s inauguration ceremony was attended by then State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan. In 2013, then State Councilor Liu Yandong attended the inauguration ceremony of Park Geun hye

Wang Qishan’s visit to South Korea this time has exceeded the previous specifications. Li Jiacheng, an associate professor at the school of international economics and politics of Liaoning University, told China Newsweek that this year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the ROK. China hopes to anchor the path of stable development of China ROK relations in this Commemorative Year

According to the official website of the Ministry of foreign affairs, the special envoy, as a diplomatic representative sent temporarily to perform a mission, is also known as the temporary diplomatic representative. Special envoys of China refer to the official representatives sent by the president or the government to perform specific ceremonial or political tasks in other countries. They can be divided into special representatives of the president, special envoys of the president and representatives of the Chinese government. The curators of overseas institutions can also serve as the special representative of the president, the special envoy of the president and the representative of the Chinese government

Yang Xiyu, a researcher at the China Academy of international studies, explained to China Newsweek that there are only slight differences between the special representative of the president and the special envoy of the president. The special envoy has a specific task and needs to consult with the other government on a certain matter, not the representative

Yang Xiyu further said that in the past 30 years, whether South Korea is a conservative party or a progressive party in power, China has maintained a highly continuous and stable policy towards South Korea, and South Korea has also placed its relations with China in a particularly important position. It is precisely because of each other’s attention that China has always maintained high standards when participating in the inauguration ceremony of the South Korean President

Wang Qishan’s last visit was in October 2019. lt;

“ Headwind adjustment period &rdquo

Since Moon Jae-in took office in 2017, while maintaining the alliance between the ROK and the US, he has actively repaired and developed the previous deployment “ Sade ” China ROK relations have declined sharply due to the anti missile system

In Yang Xiyu’s view, after 30 years of development, China ROK relations have achieved many positive results, but there are also some contradictions, both internal and external. At this stage, China ROK relations have entered “ Headwind adjustment period &rdquo

At present, China is the largest trading partner and source of imports and exports of South Korea, and South Korea has also become China’s third largest trading partner. However, there is also a hidden crisis in the overall well-developed economic and trade relations. In the early stage, there were great differences in the economic and trade structure between China and South Korea. China mainly exported textiles, agricultural and industrial raw materials and other commodities. With the development of China’s economy, science and technology, China has exported more and more high-tech industrial products to South Korea, such as integrated circuits, semiconductor devices and so on. This has reduced the complementarity of China ROK economic and trade structure

Externally, the impact of American factors is the biggest. With the rise of China, China and the United States are engaged in all-round competition in the fields of economy and trade, science and technology, national security and so on. As a close neighbor of China and an ally of the United States, coupled with the ups and downs of the Peninsula nuclear issue, how to balance between China and the United States is a test for successive South Korean governments

Yin Xiyue, born in the national power party, is likely to continue the traditional conservative line after taking office. Yin Xiyue said that he would strengthen the ROK US military alliance and vigorously promote the ROK US relationship to be upgraded to a comprehensive strategic alliance

After winning the election, Yin Xiyue first sent a delegation to the United States. And the United States also “ Reciprocate;, US President Biden is scheduled to visit South Korea on May 20. Li Jiacheng believes that Biden’s trip to Asia has rarely chosen to visit South Korea before Japan, “ It is also a ‘ gift to South Korea from the United States; Honor ’, It can be seen that the United States attaches importance to the New South Korean government”

On May 6, the Korean National Intelligence Agency announced that South Korea officially joined the cooperative Cyber Defense Center of excellence (ccdcoe) under NATO, becoming the first Asian country of the agency“ After South Korea joins the network security organization under NATO, the United States will extend its tentacles around China with the help of its ally South Korea” Yang Xiyu analyzed China Newsweek

During the election campaign, Yin Xiyue also made tough remarks related to China, including strengthening the Korea US alliance, “ Use extended deterrence to defend South Korea;, May continue to deploy “ Sade ” System, etc. However, after being elected president, Yin Xiyue’s attitude towards China has changed in a moderate and positive direction

On March 11, Yin Xiyue met with Xing Haiming, Chinese ambassador to the ROK. He hoped that the ROK and China would take the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations as an opportunity to further close high-level exchanges, strengthen exchanges and cooperation in various fields and enhance national feelings. He also expressed his firm belief that ROK China relations will achieve greater development and reach a new level. Xing Haiming also became the first foreign ambassador Yin Xiyue met after being elected president. lt;

China and South Korea have also maintained active communication on the Korean Peninsula, which is currently at an impasse in peace talks. On May 3, Liu Xiaoming, special representative of the Chinese government for Korean Peninsula affairs, visited South Korea and held talks with ROK Foreign Minister Lu guide, who negotiated peace on the peninsula. He said that China is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with the new ROK government and jointly promote the process of political settlement of the Peninsula issue

During the Moon Jae-in administration, he advocated contact and dialogue with the DPRK to resolve the issue of the division of the peninsula in a peaceful manner. From 2018 to 2019, Moon Jae-in met with DPRK supreme leader Kim Jong Un for many times and signed the historic Panmunjom declaration. Yin Xiyue has always believed that the DPRK should be tough and advocated that sanctions against the DPRK can be relaxed only after the DPRK has taken verifiable and irreversible nuclear abandonment actions. Li Jiacheng said that under such circumstances, it is difficult for inter Korean relations to get out of the deadlock or even regress

From the structural contradictions of China ROK relations and external shocks such as American factors, the challenges of China ROK relations are severe in terms of political cooperation. Yang Xiyu uses “ South Korea’s China policy tends to Japan ” To describe the current China ROK relations. He explained that Japan should maintain the stability of relations with China on the premise of ensuring the comprehensive cooperation between the United States and Japan, and the Yin Xiyue government may adopt similar positions and practices in its China policy