한국국제교류재단

In early June I headed for Gyeongju to take part in the Korea-China Forum for the Future organized by the Korea Foundation, looking forward to learning much from the insights of China specialists from Korea and China. Atten-ding the Forum were 22 participants from the Korean side led by president Lee In-ho, and ten representatives from the Chinese side led by Mei Zhaorong, president of the Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs. The Forum was followed by a tour of popular attractions in Korea, including Busan and Geojedo, which helped the Chinese participants to gain a better understanding of Korea. This year the Forum was divided into three sessions: the political and economic situation in Korea and China, Northeast Asia and the Korean peninsula in the new world order, and ways to boost Korea-China cooperation in the new century. These sessions gave me the opportunity to learn about the state of affairs of China in relation to the United States, a topic closely related to my field of research.

The 8th Korea -China Forum for the Future.

For the sake of enlightenment, Koreans in the 19th century followed a policy of being friendly toward China while reaching out to the United States so that without offending the Chinese Korea could build up its national wealth and military strength. However, the Joseon Dynasty was unable to deal effectively with world powers engaged in a fierce competition for strategic advantage, and thus Korea ended up losing its autonomy. Now, more than 100 years later, as the Korean peninsula pursues openness and reform, North Korea is still aspiring to maintain friendly relations with China while reaching out to the United States. Meanwhile South Korea enjoys friendly relations with the United States while reaching out to China in response to the changing world order. Is it not now possible for both Koreas to establish a new and more independent relationship with both the United States and China?

What is the attraction of the Korean peninsula for China and the United States?

Adroit Foreign Policy

As the United States is now calling on Korea to support its Missile Defense (MD) program in the name of maintaining friendly relations, Korea is making strategic use of its ambiguity, withholding any clear position on the issue and instead simply saying that it understands the U.S. position. If, as the United States says, the MD program is targeted at North Korea, which Washington regards as a terrorist state, then South Korea must not ignore the wariness of the North at a time when it is seeking to improve North-South relations. If the ultimate target of the MD is China, however, Korea cannot afford not to take notice of the position of Beijing, which strongly opposes the plan. In this light, South Korea needs to implement an adroit foreign policy that fosters compassion for it's difficult position of having to deal with North Korea while also needing to embrace both the United States and China.

In the rapidly changing environment surrounding Korea in the 21st century, a trite, one-dimensional foreign policy cannot serve the interests of the Korean peninsula. There is a need to elicit the sympathy and understanding of China and the United States and then use this to promote South Korea's own interests. China makes no bones about the fact that it considers the United States responsible for the recent aggravation of China-U.S. relations and the standstill in inter-Korean relations. Since the inauguration of the George W. Bush administration, anti-American sentiment in China has sharply increased. South Korea is not in a position to ride along with this sentiment; for South Korea, losing the basic foundation of its friendly relations with the United States would not be of any help in improving North-South relations. However, it is difficult for South Korea to support the position of the United States since it cannot ignore a likely backlash from China and North Korea. If it seems that the United States will take a hard-line stance in its policy toward North Korea, Seoul will not be able to persuade Washington to soften its approach simply by arguing that this might incite anti-American sentiment in South Korea. Seoul must thus appeal to both China and the United States with an argument that degeneration of China-U.S. relations will not only adversely affect Korea's position in Northeast Asia, but that such a development is not in the best interests of both the United States and China.

While participating in this year's Forum, I felt an acute need for Korea to consolidate its alliance with the United States while handling skillfully its relationship with China. At a time when the possibility for a new alignment in Northeast Asia is beginning to emerge, it will require decisive action and tactful diplomacy to promote future China-Korea relations. In order to capitalize on this new potential, it is imperative that future Forum participants include not only China specialists but also scholars adept at strategic planning. From a long-term perspective, the Forum should also begin to include young scholars and specialists to promote personal relations between the two countries on a continuing basis.