Huanqiu Daily "Is There Any Country Not Strong in Protecting Core Interests?"
[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Yoon-joo] China's state-run media published an editorial supporting South Korean Foreign Minister Jeong Eui-yong's remark that China's assertive foreign policy stance is 'natural.'
Global Times (環球時報) online edition on the 24th ran an editorial titled "Pro-China remarks? The South Korean Foreign Minister is pro-national interest (South Korea's interest)," stating, "From our perspective, Minister Jeong Eui-yong merely spoke a few big facts." Global Times is a representative state-run media outlet that conveys China's tough foreign policy messages.
The editorial stated, "We want to ask which country does not act strongly to protect its sovereignty and core interests."
It continued, "China has territorial disputes with several countries, but we have clearly stated our position and defended our interests," adding, "China's strength has increased, so are you saying this power should not be used to counter challenges aimed at us?"
The editorial also described, "South Korea is an important neighboring country of China and a typical country 'caught between China and the U.S.'," and evaluated that "South Korea has focused on maintaining a kind of balance between China and the U.S."
It further claimed, "This (balancing diplomacy between China and the U.S.) has become a different form of South Korean diplomacy compared to Australia and Japan, and it has clearly expanded South Korea's strategic space rather than shrinking it, increasing diplomatic flexibility to protect national interests."
Moreover, the editorial added, "Although there are intense sentiments toward each other within South Korean and Chinese societies, the fact that the leaders of both countries firmly set a constructive direction so that such intense emotions do not dominate bilateral relations shows the shared political wisdom of the two countries."
Meanwhile, Minister Jeong Eui-yong visited New York during the UN General Assembly period and attended a dialogue session on the 22nd (local time) hosted by the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), a U.S. foreign policy and security think tank. When the moderator pointed out that China has recently shown an assertive stance in the international community, he responded, "It is natural because China is becoming economically stronger," adding, "It is not the China of 20 years ago."
Minister Jeong also expressed disagreement with the term 'assertive' itself, stating, "They (China) want to convey China's voice to other members of the international community," he added.
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