NEWS BRIEF
President Xi Jinping will conclude his three-day South Korea visit on Saturday with a state dinner and summit hosted by President Lee Jae Myung, who assumed office in June and faces the challenge of balancing ties between Beijing and Washington. The visit marks Xi’s first trip to South Korea in 11 years and comes days after Lee hosted President Trump for a rushed state visit, as Seoul navigates its security dependence on the U.S. and economic entanglement with China amid rising superpower competition.
WHAT HAPPENED
- Chinese President wraps up three-day trip with state dinner and summit on APEC sidelines. Lee hosts Xi days after similar treatment for Trump.
- Lee and Xi will discuss Korean peninsula denuclearization though Pyongyang dismissed it as “pipe dream.” Trump’s Kim Jong Un meeting offer has received no response.
- Xi proposed World AI Cooperation Organization and announced China hosting next APEC. Beijing positions as free trade champion while Presiden Trump has skipped the summit.
- Seoul has raised concerns over Chinese rare earth controls and Hanwha Ocean sanctions. South Korea hopes Xi’s visit may ease entertainment content restrictions from 2017 THAAD deployment.
WHY IT MATTERS
- New president must protect export economy while managing U.S. security ties and Chinese economic leverage. Faces competing demands from both superpowers.
- Beijing capitalizes on Trump’s absence to position as reliable trade partner. China’s predictability contrasts with unpredictable American tariff policies.
- China’s Pyongyang influence gives Beijing negotiating advantage with Seoul. Denuclearization discussions seem unlikely without Chinese cooperation.
- Deep economic ties with China limit Seoul’s options despite U.S. security alliance. Beijing can weaponize market access for concessions.
IMPLICATIONS
- Alliance strain intensifies: Seoul’s China engagement may irritate Washington expecting ally solidarity. South Korea increasingly caught between incompatible demands.
- China’s patient strategy: Beijing avoids aggressive outreach, letting Trump’s unpredictability damage alliances naturally. Future phases may include increased pressure or engagement.
- Economic coercion continues: Chinese sanctions demonstrate Beijing’s willingness to use economic leverage. Korean businesses face ongoing uncertainty in market access.
- Regional order shifting: U.S. allies increasingly conduct independent China diplomacy despite American opposition. Traditional alliances weaken as economic interests diverge from security.
This briefing is based on information from Reuters.
