South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun recently stated in an exclusive interview with The Washington Post that South Korea faces the issue of “China causing some trouble for its neighboring countries,” and warned of the rise and challenges posed by China. In response, the Chinese Embassy in South Korea emphasized that China adheres to the basic norms of international relations based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and maintains good relations with neighboring countries.
The full interview with Cho Hyun was published by The Washington Post on the 3rd, and its contents were reprinted by Korean news outlets including Yonhap News Agency.
On the 4th, the Chinese Embassy in South Korea issued a statement on Cho Hyun’s relevant remarks involving China, stating that China currently enjoys good relations with all neighboring countries, and the vast majority of countries also prioritize strengthening friendly cooperation with China in their diplomatic agendas. The embassy emphasized that China always firmly safeguards the international system with the United Nations at its core, the international order based on international law, and the basic norms of international relations based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter.
In the interview with The Washington Post, Cho Hyun said that South Korea faces the issue of “China causing some trouble for its neighbors” in the Northeast Asia region. He noted that South Korea has seen China’s actions in the South China Sea and Yellow Sea, and that China has even unilaterally installed structures in South Korea’s West Sea (Yellow Sea), leading to friction with South Korea.
Korea Remains Vigilant about China’s Rise
Cho Hyun said, “China is already our (South Korea’s) competitor in the economic field,” and that “we (South Korea) remain vigilant about China’s rise and challenges.”
However, he also said that South Korea wishes to maintain good relations with China, and also hopes that China will abide by international law in both bilateral and regional affairs. Maintaining good relations with China, while cooperating with the United States and Japan to ensure that the international order is not threatened by China, is the position of the South Korean government.