I used to believe that the best pot in East Asia was smoked behind the Kyeongbok Palace in Seoul (i.e. the Blue House, for those unfamiliar with Korea’s capital city), but after reading this article from the Chosun Ilbo, I’m starting to suspect that some of the boys and girls in Beiing got their hands on some pretty good shit. According to the piece, scholars from our Big Brothers to the East are beginning to claim that Koguryeo and Parhae - two ancient Korean kingdoms that occupied what is currently North Korea and parts of Manchuria - were actually administrative districts of China, Kojoseon - another ancient kingdom - was a colony founded by Chinese, and that the ethnic Koreans that ruled those kingdoms were, in fact, nothing more than Chinese ethnic minorities. This “unified multi-ethnic nation” school of thought, which is apparently receiving official backing from the Chinese government, appears to be more than simply an exercise in academics - some fear that the Chinese intend to use these arguments to press territorial disputes in the post-Korean unification era. Given the Chinese inclination of stressing their rights to “historical Chinese territories,” perhaps this fear is not so far-fetched.
Chinese scholars have long claimed Parhae as their own - I posted my own drivel on that subject some time ago. This is the first time, however, I have heard of Chinese scholars laying claim to Koguryeo as well. The writer of the Chosun piece, of course, makes it pretty clear that it considers the idea preposterous, and in this case I have to agree - if Koguryeo was a Chinese administrative district, someone obviously forgot to tell King Kwanggaet’o and General Ulchi Mundok.
The writer of the article, a professor of Korean history at Koryeo University, claims (rightfully, IMHO) that Chinese distortions of Korean history may, in the end, be more a more serious problem than the much-lambasted distortions found in certain Japanese textbooks. This is because unlike the Japanese case, the Chinese distortions are being lead by a research center within the Chinese Social Science Institute (name of institute translated straight from the Korean), a national policy organ run by a deputy prime minister.
The article points out that the Chinese may be reacting to North Korea’s move to register the Koguryeo Wall Murals as UNESCO World Heritage Sites - the request was made in 2001, and as of yet, this request has yet to be accepted. I was unaware of any Chinese attempts to block the North Korean request, so if anyone’s got any more info on this, my comments section is open. Still, one has to be somewhat wary of things like this - it wasn’t so long ago that the Chinese claimed as territorial waters the entire Yellow Sea all the way up to the Korean coast, and Chinese fishing boats apparently still believe they are. As the American presence in Korea grows smaller and smaller over the coming years, the LAST thing this country needs is Beijing to start treating Korea like a vassal. I don’t mean to sound any alarms here, but it’s no secret that China has border issues with just about every one of its neighbors, and Seoul needs to make it a point loud and early that they will tolerate no crap from the PRC.
42 Comments
Don’t look for any information coming out of here. No mention of it from where I’m sitting. Although there’s no mention of a lot of things around here.
Like I have said over and over, the Chinese are like the pre-WWII Japanese, spoiling for a fight over the right to rule its former vassal states. In recent decades, it has initiated border wars with almost every single one of its neighbors. And this does not represent any change in Chinese attitudes - the basic difference between China 50 years ago and China today is that China was weak then, but is becoming strong today.
Note that this acquisitive spirit crosses party lines. For example, General Cash My Check tried to annex Burma (a former Chinese vassal state) to China after WWII, before the British objected. And it was Cash My Check who sent troops into East Turkistan to re-subjugate a Caucasian people for the greater glory of the motherland. China was previously a good neighbor not because it held different views, but because it had not the werewithal to carry out its expansionist tendencies. In the 20th century, China is the only significant power that has expanded its territorial extent, even while the European empires were devolving authority and autonomy to their subjects.
Robert, you have been there long enough to know that Koreans simply WORSHIP China and all things Chinese. Many students in my admittely commie university openly long for Chinese domination, if only to get the hate whities out.
The “Old Choson as Chinese commandery” argument is not as bogus as it initially sounds. The areas in question were settled and controlled by several ethnic groups in succession and contemporaneously. Most of these groups were Chinese, ethnic groups subject to Chinese suzerainty, or conquerors of the Chinese (let’s call them “proto-Chinese”). The same physical land in the Liaoning Peninsula and Jilin Province the Koreans call Old Choson has been “Lolang Taifang”, Koguryo, Parhae, Jurchen/Manchu lands, Qing China, Manchukuo, and PRC.
But never “Koryo”, never “Choson” (as in dynasty) and never “Korea” (North or South). Yes, a lot of Koreans live there now, but most of them first arrived in the Manchukuo period. Is it fair for this land to be subject to irredentist claims from Koreans, if the last “Korean” (or precedessor-in-interest) political control was 2000 years ago?
Also, just because Koreans today claim Koguryo as their ancestor kingdom does not mean that Koguryo itself conceived of itself as “Korean” or anything other than Koguryo. This is one of the crazy elements of the “5000 years” argument — the first time anyone can begin to point to the seeds of an identity of “Korean-ness” is Koryo’s establishment as a unified kingdom in 935. Why not Unified Shilla? If the “Koreans” living under Shilla’s control were so ethnically homogenous, why did they splinter into basically the same three pre-Shilla kingdoms at the end of the Shilla period?
I realize, of course, that this heresy means I must move away and never compete in short-track skating again, but gee whiz.
The “Old Choson as Chinese commandery” argument is not as bogus as it initially sounds.
Only by Chinese standards. This is the kind of claim that Hitler made when he decided to unify* all the Aryans under German rule - because the Aryans used to be part of the same tribe. It’s a recipe for unending war.
* That’s the way the Chinese would phrase it.
Zhang Fei, you seem to overlook the fact that basically, the Chinese “unification” of that (Old Choson) land was completed more than 1000 years ago. So the bogus irredentist claims under these circumstances would be Korean claims to such lands.
Anyway, you’re right that it’s a recipe for unending war, which is why my preference would be to quash anyone making the claims.
Brendon makes a good point. Just because North Korea is situated on land that was once part of Koguryeo and Parhae does not make those two kingdoms “ancient Korean kingdoms,” just as the United States cannot claim native American history as its own. They were just two kingdoms that used to exist on land currently occupied by North Korea.
Assuming, however, that the historical research being done in China is part of a plan to eventually take over North Korea, would that really be so bad? Could Chinese rule over North Korea be any worse than Kim Jong-il’s? At least China would open up North Korea to development and end the starvation.
By the way, I have heard some Koreans suggest that once North and South Korea are unified, Korea should try to reclaim the Chinese territory that was once occupied by Koguryeo.
I think the Chinese are just trying to do make themselves look good as much as possible. We all know that the past 1,000 years after the fall of Parhae, Chinese only ruled their own country for only 200 of those years. Khitans, Jurchens, Mongols and the Manchus all ruled China and treated the Chinese like slaves in their own country. The Manchus hated the Chinese and made them get the barbaric hair cuts. Talk about Korea getting invaded too much, at least they had their own king in the throne.
Everybody takes the side of China, but Chinese should try to look at their own history. Last time I heard, the founders of Jurchen Jin came from Koryo. Chinese are too scared about admitting they were conquored by the Koreans.
John Whitman,
Can’t you even differentiate “chinese” from the “hans”? Get your facts right before blabbing your mouth off on what you “think” or what you “heard”.
thanks! laugh.
I am talking about the Hans. The Manchu hated the Hans with the 7 hatred of the Han Chinese, when they conquored them (all of China). Of course the Chinese don’t want to admit that. It’s not what I heard, but what I studied. Who else whould I be talking about? The people of Tibet? Chinese are trying to say the multi- China, but their interest in the Han Chinese race.
I think it a shame that the Chinese (the older wiser) are doing the same thing the Japanese (barabarians) are doing 100 years ago, trying to distort history.
Gerry Bevers wonders if it would be better for the North Koreans if China took over North Korea.
Well, I’m sure the north Koreans wouldn’t appreciate that. The language (including a non-Chinese orthography), diet (say Kimchee!), costume,etc etc are distinctly Korean and not Han-Chinese. Someday, somehow the north and south Koreans will have to be unified as a Korean nation, not a Chinese province.
I have taken a lot of East Asian history courses in my studies. I’m very interested about the Manchurians (Jurchens and Manchus). They are a very strong people who dominated East Asia for a very long time. I would like to see what happens to Manchuria in the next 100 years. I think there is a sensitivity due to the fact that Japan declared Manchuko independent in 1931. There seems to be a lot of pressure building up in that region. I think that it is important for all of the East Asian nations to admit that they were all defeated and conquored at one point.
Goguryeo was a Korean kingdom, no doubt about it. Why?
First of all, all of the Goguryeo kings who ruled before the 5th century (Before King Jangsu) gave help to Shilla, the Korean kingdom to the southeast of the Korean peninsula, also one of the Three Kingdoms. King Gwanggaetto of Goguryeo explained this in his letter to the King of Shilla, saying that “We are honored bound to help my ally Shilla, as we are all the brothers descended from Gojoseon.” Therefore, Goguryeo cannot be a Chinese colony. Not only that, many of the people who established Barhae, a kingdom in northern Manchuria, were the nobles and civilians of Goguryeo. After the fall of Barhae to the Khitan in 925, most of the Barhae people fleed to Goryo, which had derived its name from Goguryeo. Not to mention, the Barhae king also told Japan (then called Wae Nara) to refer to the king of Barhae as the king of Goguryeo, clearly indicating the link between these two kingdoms. Also, Barhae’s resentment of Unified Shilla clearly shows that it thought itself as a descendant of Goguryeo. Finally, the feeing of Barhae civilians to Goryo shows that the two kingdoms clearly thought Goguryeo as their predecessor, and remains as evidence that many people in Korea are descendants of Goguryeo people. Most ethnic groups of Koreans residing in Manchuria also have Goguryeo blood flowing within their veins, withe exception of tthose Koreans who were escaped to Manchuria to avoid Japanese imperialists.
Therefore, Goguryeo is undoubtedly a Korean kingdom.
“In the 20th century, China is the only significant power that has expanded its territorial extent, even while the European empires were devolving authority and autonomy to their subjects.” Zhang Fei
Where do you get this material? Compare the map of China prior to A.D. 1880 and present-day. China had 1/3 more land mass then than it does now, even if you include Taiwan and Tibet. Look up the Treaty of Nanking. I seriously doubt expansionsit-China wishes to annex the Korean Peninsula when it still has its handsful with Taiwan, Tibet, Xinjian, and Mongolia.
“the Barhae king also told Japan (then called Wae Nara) to refer to the king of Barhae as the king of Goguryeo, clearly indicating the link between these two kingdoms” Daniel Mckellen
Alexander the Great referred to himself as the King of Persia. He later changed his title to King of Egypt.
“”the Barhae king also told Japan (then called Wae Nara) to refer to the king of Barhae as the king of Goguryeo, clearly indicating the link between these two kingdoms” Daniel Mckellen
Alexander the Great referred to himself as the King of Persia. He later changed his title to King of Egypt.”
But, Balhae never did.
However, Alexander the Great was calling himself king of countries that were not ethnically the same as Macedonia. However, Barhae’s kings called themselves king of Goguryeo, which was the land of their ancestors. Not to mention, most of the citizens and nobility of Barhae were the people of Goguryeo.
If you’re wondering where all the information here and above came from, you’re free to purchase the online version of the Sam Guk Yu Sa (Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms (Korea)) and the Sam Guk Sa Gi (Record of the Three Kingdoms (Korea)), ’cause all of my information comes from these true records that were made during the Goryeo dynasty, which immediately followed the Shilla dynasty, which was one of the three ruling dynasties of the three kingdoms in Korea.
I stumbled on them while surfing on the Internet, and they turned out to be quite interesting. It is also useful, if you want information on Unified Shilla, to purchase a copy of the Guk Sa (National History (Shilla)).
Sorry about the typo above. Most of the nobility of Barhae were the people of Goguryeo, but only a minorty of the citizens were descendants of the people of Goguryeo. The citizens were mostly groups of nomads. The nobility, as mentioned above, were descendants of the people of Goguryeo, and the king was the descendant of a famous Gguryeo general.
Well, I’m sure the Chinese gov’t have studies that discount these “records.” So, your assuming quite a bit by stating “Goguryeo was a Korean kingdom, no doubt about it.”
Han, you’re pretty funny. I assume that you are Han chinese. Don’t you mean the “made up” chinese gov’t studies that discount the “records” ? If the studies are for academics and learning about Goguryo, why not let the Coreans join in? Too afraid you’ll find something you won’t like?
I think some of these names are not what they seem. Please comment on the issue everyone, but I don’t believe that Caucasian names would so vigorously and passionaltely about isses like this one. It seems like to me it’s shouting match between Koreans and Chinese (Han Chinese). Well, all I have to say about that is, let the battles begin.
Everyone has a valid point but keep in mind that ancient inter-state relations in East Asia were markedly different from the sovereign-state paradigm that existed today. It was a Middle Kingdom-centric hierarchical structure. Which territories at what period could be considered part of the Middle Kingdom or other powers is debatable. Sure the Jurchens, Qidans, Manchus and the Mongols ruled over all or part of the Chinese continent but the Hans at various times in history did the same. They were all pretty much ruled under the concept of ???뱈andate of heaven??? and established Sino-centric dynasties.
what happens to former Manchuria in the next 100 years?
Of all the major ethnic minorities, the Manchus are among the most assimilated with the Hans. In fact the former Manchuria region is not even classified as an autonomous region, but three provinces in northeast China. I’ve came across people in the mainland over the years who are of Manchus descents. But you can’t tell by their behaviors or appearance and many can hardly speak their native language. Their assimilation with the Hans will likely continue to intensify. Remember the Hans are a pretty diverse group with changes to their make up over the centuries. (The Cantonese and Hakka were not always classified as Hans) The differences among regional and linguistic subgroups of Han Chinese are at least as great as those among many European nationalities. Also many ethnic groups have been transformed or disappered over the course of Chinese history. The pressure building up in this region is largely to due economics not ethnic. (This was the rust belt area during Mao’s communist era) China’s most difficult ethnic region is no doubt Xinjiang.
question to anyone. Do han chinese or mandarin speaking chinese look down on the cantonese or non-hans? Is there a subtle status consciousness?
I don’t think Manchu assimilation in the Hans have anything to do with this issue. The fact is that they were not Han Chinese. I think that Koguryo has an important implicit element. The element is that the decendencts of the former Koguryo kingdom have succesfully conquored China 2 times. Jin and Qing. I am not saying that they were Coreans, I just saying that they came from the same area. Therefore, Koguryo should be part of China. I’m just glad that Han Chinese were not allowed into Manchuria until 100 years ago.
China claims Goguryeo as their history, because most of Goguryeo’s territory now lies in China. This claim is absurd and irrational.
Old Chosun is not a Chinese Commandery.
The Chinese claim as Goguryeo and Balhae being colonies of China is absurd. Since when do you use military invasion to control your own colony? In the Twenty-second year of King Yeong-yang’s reign, the Sui dynasty invaded Goguryeo with a force over one million. A portion of these troops went south of the Yalu and met the famous Goguryeo general Uljimundok at the battle of Salsu. Goguryeo General Uljimundok defeated the 300,000 contingent force. It is said that only 2,700 Chinese troops lived to cross the Yalu.
If Goguryeo was Chinese, then why do they have houses with floor-heating systems? Then why does Goguryeo have totally different customs and clothing from China? Has China forgotten the military defeats in Goguryeo?
Also what Ryan said about the Manchus. If both Koreans and Manchus are descendants of Goguryeo, how can one claim over it more than the other? How can you claim history based on geographical location?
On another note. Koreans do not “worship” China or anything Chinese.
Anyone claiming that Goguryeo or Balhae is Chinese history is ignorant of obvious facts and illiterate of their own history. Even the Tang dynasty records claim that Balhae is descended from Goguryeo.
ON your note about the Manchus. I’m not saying that Manchus are Corean. The reason that geograhical location is important is because both the Jin and Qing both claim to be decendents of Barhae. They even name that Bay of China’s capital Bohai (chinese for Barhae). If they were decendents of Parhae, then they must have been decendents of Goguryo. This holds true if we take your claim that even the Tang claimed Barhae was successor state to Goguryo. The current border with North Corea and China is due to the fact that the Manchus and the Corean agreed to cut the border half way at Mt. Baektu. They both believe their ancestors came from there.
Please inform me if I am mistaken.
One must not only look at symbolic acts, geographic locations, and political events to see the links between kingdoms and ethnicities and descendancy. One must not look at who owns which area now and decide which side does the history belong to. With your logic, Poland can claim Prussian history as their’s, the Caucasian-Americans can claim Hawaiian history as their’s, and the Turkish can claim Byzantine empire, and so on. Your argument is flawed. One must also look at the languages and culture of Goguryeo and Balhae, also to see whether it belongs to the Koreans or the Manchu. In studying the culture, languages, and the customs of the Goguryeo and Balhae people, these kingdoms are related to Koreans the most.
On another note, Manchus happen to be the closest ethnicity in terms of physical appearance to Koreans.. so is there a link? Are the Manchus, Koreans? They are both from the mongol ethnic stock.
Yes, you are mistaken. You are narrow-minded. You just read that part and dismissed the rest as frivolous talk. You have dismissed obvious facts and been doped up with the Chinese opium of history distortion.
According to Ryan’s logic, since most of the Byzantine’s empire is part of Turkey, it is Turkish in origin.
Someone is high on the American opium of arrogance and ignorance…
Your attempt to legitimise your argument is pathetic.. Digest more of your opium of arrogance and ignorance.
Who is doing all of this nonsense? I hate it when people keep repeating the same sentence. From what I am reading, not everyone is reading correctly. People are taking different quotes from different people and making it into another case.
The comments above do not seem very coherent. Arbitrator, I would like to hear what you have to say regarding Ryan’s last comment. It seemed like it went off into another tangent after that.
Personally, I think this whole Goguryo thing is absurd. I just don’t understand why the Chinese and the Koreans are fighting about it now?? Why not before?? Was it not important before??
You are very arrogant, but that is OK, I think it is funny. You’re are missing one point. In the case of the Manchu and Coreans, I am simply trying to imply that the political and geographical actions were a result of their cultural similarities. I’m sure the Manchus and the Coreans knew that they had similar cultural background. As a result, the symbolic gestures and the geographics locaitons are important things to signify the cultural similarities.
Do you think that the Caucasians would cut the border at a mountain because they believe the Hawaiians had the same ancestors? Whoever does, is probably on that Chinese Opium.
Listen, I get your point, and you hit it right on target. I was just trying to signify the political and geographical gestures of the Manchus as a result of their cultural similarities with the Coreans.
Arbirator when you write, you shouldn’t be so condecending.
Arbitrator, I’m so glad your condescending because the accepted rape of korea is so immoral and ugly and its a testament to the bully syndrome. Have you noticed how every nation is looking for an advantage, japan constantly looks down on korea and china wishes to fathog everything it can. Japan would not exist if not for the koreans and the koreans have lost whole territories that were once theirs. Koguryo is clearly korean at least anyone who has a sense of true honesty. Amazing what people will try to pull, it never ends and can never be underestimated..
Also their are snide condescending tones regarding korea I’ve witnessed many times but it is accepted as korea is a small nation that just better speak only when spoken to attitude. Though a bit concealed this dynamic is real. The way of disgusting hypocrisy
Whats further interesting is the chinese and japanese have more purposefully faulty historical and racial studies combined than little old hated korea. Interesting but pathetically revealing..
“You are very arrogant, but that is OK, I think it is funny.”
“Well, I’m sure the Chinese gov’t have studies that discount these “records.” So, your assuming quite a bit by stating “Goguryeo was a Korean kingdom, no doubt about it.”
I think people such as yourself are arrogant. The analogy I can use to describe korea in these situations is similar to a girl child in the control of her pedophile prone, stronger stepparent. The girl has to be careful not to ruffle any feathers or incite any animosity. It also is at the mercy if it wants what it can take. Its a ripple effect, people then nations. Look deeply in your own ugly hearts and know what people are motivated by.
I’m not so sure why there is such vitriol concerning this subject, since this type of historic phenomenon exists in so many other countries. But, in those cases, the countries involved don’t insist on an exclusive claim to a particular history while shutting out the claims of any other country.
For example, there used to be a Kingdom of Navarre that spans the modern borders of France and Spain. At the time of it’s existance, it was viewed as a sperate entity from the Kingdom of France and the Kingdoms of Castile and Aragon. Spain in its modern form had not come into existance yet. In addition to this political separateness, a cultural one existed too, with Navarre using a form of the Langue d’Oc as its main language, different from the Langue d’Oil in use in Paris of that time. However, Navarre is considered part of BOTH French AND Spanish history now, since its territorial holdings span both countries now. There’s no attempt by either country to claim sole proprietorship of Navarre’s history or culture.
Similarly, the once independent Duchy of Burgundy spanned the current borders of France and Germany. And once again, both countries legitimately incorporates that history into its own.
I think if you look at history, you’ll notice that across the world, borders are fluid and entire kingdoms and civilizations, that were once considered independent, have disappeared over the centuries. Many times you have these entities that no longer exist that can validly be claimed by more than once country based on many factors such as geography or culture.
If you look at Korguyo, it considered itself a separate entity from both Silla and the various neighboring Chinese dynasties and kingdoms. This can be clearly seen in both its diplomatic and military activities. Not only did Korguryo documents refer to both Silla and the various Chinese dynasties that they dealt with as separate entities, they sent diplomatic missions to both, and fought wars with both.
In terms of language, art, and architecture too, they differed from both.
I guess my question, in the end, is why can’t China and Korea both claim Korguryo as part of its history and conduct research, scholarship, and acheology on the parts of the former kingdom that fall within their current borders? If other countries can do it, why can’t it be done there?
Not only am I curious about the vitrol, I’m also wondering why I’m still getting comments on this post — I put it up in November of last year. How are you guys surfing into this? Has it been linked to in some forum site or something?
Mr. John Yu, you make a very good point. However, you are assuming that Shilla people are Corean but not Koguryo or Baekje. Unlike the cases of Spain and France, Koguryo has always been part of Corean history. From Koguryo came Koryo and came Korea or Corea. Koguryo is not only a part of Corean history, but of Corean culture. As far as Coreans can remember, Koguryo has always been part of Corea. Chinese on the other hand probably don’t know who or what Koguryo is. My question is why the Chinese never claimed Koguryo as part of their history before and why all of a sudden? What is the motif?
If you told the North Coreans that Koguryo was Chinese and that they are decendents of Shilla, I’m sure you are going to get a very bad reaction. From my understanding, they don’t even acknowledge Shilla as their ancestors. They acknowledge Koguryo and Koryo.
I’m sure most of all this is political and stupid, but it is important to remember that Koguryo was and always will a significant part of the Corean soul.
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TITLE: Capturing China: 2003-12-19
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TITLE: Capturing China: 2003-12-19
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yes,, China was indeed a very powerful influence to Korea at that time,,,(and still is) just think a tiny Korean peninsula attatched to humongous country.. yup, Througout Korean history, Korea was constantly oppressed by China. Constanly attacked by China at north and Japan at south… Ofcourse, wars caused by such attacks were greatly outnumbered by Chinese, thus Korea continually seeked alliance with China. But sometimes wars would replace burdensome alliance and such was what happened between China and Koguryeo. The Sui dynasty in China attempted three unsucessful attacks toward Koguryeo. Ofcourse, the Koguyeons were greatly outnumbered but managed to defeat succesively under the leadership of general Ulji Mundok. Infact these battles were among the most successful wars among Korean history that it is even recorded in ancinet Chinese history….
So my point is,,, if Koguryeo was part of ethnic group in China, why would have China so desparately wanted to attack Koguryo at that time? Why would Silla form alliance with China to attack Koguryeo? Its like attacking its own country..
koguryeo is one of the kingdom in korean history and chinese are just lying because they just want to look better in hystory
The chinese should look themselves behind and should reflect themselves
I’m Full Korean although I’m living in the United States please tell me If I sound totally biased or something.
I think that Goguryeo is pretty much Korean History.I think this because after Balhae fell a lot of the people went to Koryeo (Another successor state) including the crown prince. And seeing as Koryeo is in present Koreas it makes more sense, and is what the Name Korea is derived from. Another reason is “Old China” never owned the Manchuria Area until the Yuan dynasty which was controlled by the Mongols (Kublai Khan the grandson of Genghis Khan the Asian equivalent to Alexander) And I believe that it was conquered After Goguryeo AND Balhae fell. This doesn’t have too much to do with it, but I think Mongolia should be asking for like some of the Land back. And well if anything I think the Mongols should be claiming Goguryeo. But they don’t have anything to do with it, but China is saying that it owns it due to it’s location.
If I don’t have any sense I’m sorry. Not very good at keeping my thoughts straight >.>.
A note: If something here is incorrect, or doesn’t make any sense feel free to tell me.
My email: sniffmarkers@gmail.com
I probably won’t take any offense.
China admitted Goguryeo as part of Korean history until 1980’s.
Why do they make different claim now?
I heard it’s because China’s aware of Koreans’s right of reclaiming “Kando” territory which was once Korean’s before 1910 Japanese rule. Japan & China illegally assigned this part to Japan without Korean participation. Now after the WWII, the day of expiration for reclaiming old territory is approaching. It may be the direct reason why China’s doing the trick.