Wang Yi, China's Foreign Minister, Warns "South Korea's New Government Should Not Lead a New Cold War"

Hong Kong SCMP Report

The king is the Chinese Foreign Minister.
Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] China has warned the Yoon Seok-yeol administration to "reduce anti-China sentiment and avoid provoking a new Cold War."

According to Hong Kong's South China Morning Post (SCMP), on the 18th, Wang Yi, China's Foreign Minister, urged during his first official call with Foreign Minister Park Jin, just days before President Yoon and U.S. President Joe Biden's first summit in Seoul, to "reduce anti-China sentiment and strive to avoid a new Cold War."

China has generally maintained a friendly relationship with the Moon Jae-in administration, but it is reported to be concerned about bilateral relations following the inauguration of President Yoon, known as a pro-American conservative.

This is because President Yoon showed an anti-China stance during his presidential campaign, stating that "most Koreans, especially the youth, dislike China."

In a statement released on its website, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said, "Thirty years ago, our two countries broke free from the shackles of the Cold War and opened a new chapter of cooperation. Today, China and South Korea share the fundamental interest of keeping this region open and inclusive, guarding against the risks of a new Cold War, and opposing bloc confrontation. Standing at a new starting point, we must set the right direction and open a new 30 years of China-South Korea relations."

Furthermore, the Chinese Foreign Ministry, seemingly concerned about the rising anti-China sentiment in South Korea, emphasized that "the peoples of both countries, especially the youth, should lead closer human and cultural exchanges to promote friendship and reduce misunderstandings."

Sun Xingjie, a Korea expert at Jilin University, predicted, "As the Yoon Seok-yeol administration seeks a greater role in Washington's Indo-Pacific strategy and prepares to pursue closer ties with the U.S. and Japan, China-South Korea relations will face challenges."

He added, "The new South Korean government is likely to return to the ROK-U.S. alliance and improve relations with Japan to solidify the ROK-U.S.-Japan trilateral alliance."