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Diplomatic strategies should be developed for China’s growing power

Diplomatic strategies should be developed for China’s growing power

Posted March. 30, 2015 07:53,   

한국어

At the Boao Forum that came to an end on Sunday, Chinese President Xi Jinping urged Asian countries to develop a new future by moving forward to a community of the common destiny. Xi also presented the "One Belt and One Road" initiative (a silk road in land and sea) and the Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) as important tools to build the community that shares common destiny in Asia. As the speech came at a time when the China-U.S. confrontation over the AIIB turned out a complete victory of China, the speech sounds full of power and authority, as if it announces China as a "dominant power in the Eurasia hegemony."

Although the Chinese president stressed co-existence with neighboring countries, saying the initiative is not for China alone, the statement of "a community of common destiny" carries heavy weight. Considering that Xi mentioned "common security and perspectives," the speech reminds of the Xi’s remarks that "military alliances targeted at a third party is not conducive to maintaining common security in the region," which came out last year when Xi revealed a new security initiative in Asia. The gravity of China-led global strategy and its influence over the world’s economic and diplomatic environment have been proven by surging number of the AIIB member countries. Now, it seems that China no longer hides its talents and bides time for the right opportunity. China proudly contains America’s return to Asia and boldly reveals its hegemonic strategy to divide the Asia-Pacific region with the U.S. in the "21st century’s new model for relations between great powers."

Questions are raised as to whether Korea is properly reading China’s world strategy, which is equipped with vision and action plans. Korean President Park Geun-hye’s "Northeast Asia Peace Collaboration Initiative," "Korean Peninsula Trust Process" and "Eurasia Initiative" have not produced any concrete results. President Park stressed that Korea and China need to find ways to connect Korea’s Eurasia Initiative and China’s new Silk Road initiative (Belt and Road), during Xi’s visit to Korea last year. However, it remains unknown whatever progress has been made in those initiatives.

To Korea, China’s growing power is an opportunity and a threat that shakes the international order at the same time. China, which is emerging as a rule maker to create order and rules, not only in economy but also in diplomacy and security, is a big challenge to Korea. Black-and-white perspective in which Korea economically depends on China and rely on the U.S. for security would no longer do any good to Korea to protect its national interest. The Korean government needs to consider why Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe makes all-out efforts to bring about new honeymoon with the U.S. government despite misgivings of Korea and China.

The Korean government must refrain from bragging about good relations with China or the U.S. Responsibility lies in President Park to show whether Korea’s diplomacy is capable of actively responding to change of great powers. To go through raging waves caused by China, the Korean government needs to provide a doctrine that contains comprehensive diplomatic strategies, not just focusing on dealing with pending issues.