'Protesting Taiwan Visit' in China... Cho Kyung-tae: "Why Not Solve the North Korean Nuclear Issue?"

Assemblyman Jo Kyung-tae, President of the Friendship Association, "Why is China meddling?"

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] On the 5th, China protested against the recent visit of a South Korean National Assembly delegation to Taiwan, stating that it "seriously violates the One-China principle and the spirit of the China-Korea Joint Communiqu?." In response, Cho Kyung-tae, a member of the People Power Party and chairman of the Korea-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Association, retorted, "Why is China meddling in parliamentary diplomacy?"

In a phone interview with Asia Economy on the same day, Rep. Cho expressed displeasure, saying, "Our country is an independent nation with sovereignty, so why is China interfering with our parliamentary diplomacy?"

As the chairman of the Korea-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Association, Rep. Cho visited Taiwan from the 28th to the 31st of last month along with a delegation of South Korean National Assembly members including Jung Woo-taek, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Lee Dal-gon of the People Power Party, and Lee Won-wook of the Democratic Party of Korea. They met with President Tsai Ing-wen and Legislative Yuan Speaker You Si-kun. During the meeting, they exchanged views on tensions in the Taiwan Strait and inter-Korean relations.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Rep. Cho stated, "As a sovereign nation, parliamentary diplomacy should be freely guaranteed," adding, "I think it is inappropriate for China to comment on parliamentary diplomatic activities." He further said, "China should quickly resolve North Korea's nuclear issue," pointing out that while China mentions the 'Taiwan issue' to us, it remains passive regarding the North Korean nuclear problem.

Parliamentary diplomacy (legislative diplomacy) refers to diplomatic activities conducted by members of the National Assembly or parliamentary diplomatic organizations targeting foreign parliaments, governments, and institutions to secure support for domestic and international issues, promote cooperation, and expand exchanges.

It has the advantage of utilizing parliamentarians' diverse personal networks and allows access to areas that are difficult for the government to resolve or sensitive to handle officially. As of the 21st National Assembly, a total of 115 parliamentary friendship associations (21 in Asia-Pacific, 13 in the Middle East, 22 in the Americas, 17 in Africa, and 42 in Europe) have been formed and are active.

On the same day, the Chinese Embassy in Korea issued a statement through its spokesperson expressing "firm opposition and strong protest." Ambassador Xing Haiming to Korea is also reported to have conveyed his protest to the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Assembly recently. Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Lim Soo-seok said at a regular briefing that "the government has no comments on individual activities of National Assembly members."