With the ink still wet on the U.S.-Korea FTA, the Blue House has shifted one eye to its hulking western neighbor. According to the Chosun, Seoul and Beijing may be looking to tighten military ties:
South Korea and China will establish military hot lines between their Navy and Air Forces. A Chinese source on Wednesday said Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao will sign a joint statement with President Roh Moo-hyun to that effect during an official visit to Seoul which begins on April 10.
The timing matters:
Experts in Chinese affairs say China is moving to consolidate its military and diplomatic relations with South Korea with signs of rapid improvements in U.S.-North Korea relations after a Feb. 13. six-nation agreement on the North’s nuclear program.
Well, that agreement looks like it may be dying a slow and inevitable death. But surely the FTA, coupled with contemporaneous and unprecedented U.S. tariffs on Chinese paper, has given pause to some strategists in the PRC. It’s clear that Korean and U.S. interests have dovetailed in recent years. What’s not yet clear is whether Seoul will be left out in the cold, or whether it will manage to use its economic clout to play Washington and Beijing off each other. For the moment, at least, the would-be Balancers of East Asia look to have improved their hand.
3 Comments
Just check this little blurb from the JoongAng: Chinese premier wants free trade deal
Here is a clue: “Cold War structures” is a common code phrase used by pro-NK elements when describing the conservative political elements in South Korea.
So South Korea, who *is* your friend?
Wen Jiabao also made barefaced lies on the Northeast Project in the same speech.
Anyways, I don’t think setting up a hotline is going to amount to any strategic/military partnership bewteen Korea and China. Afterall, the United States and Soviet Union had a hotline too.
“Here is a clue: “Cold War structures” is a common code phrase used by pro-NK elements when describing the conservative political elements in South Korea.
So South Korea, who *is* your friend?”
Chilling stuff. First, get rid of US forces, then get rid of that pesky democracy in the South and voila, no more Cold War structure, just hello Dear Leader, bye-bye Japan.