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| Foreign Minister Park Jin, left, shakes hands with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi during the ASEAN Plus Three Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Thursday. Yonhap |
THAAD expected to be most explosive issue: experts
By Kang Seung-woo
The foreign ministers of South Korea and China sit down for talks Tuesday to address a heap of thorny issues amid Beijing's growing displeasure with Seoul over its policies involving the United States, a staunch ally of the South.
The meeting in Qingdao, China is the second of its kind between Foreign Minister Park Jin and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi since Park's inauguration in May and comes as the Chinese government has warned against South Korea's possible participation in the U.S.-proposed anti-China chip alliance, believed to be a platform aimed at countering Beijing's rising influence in global supply chains.
In addition, China has urged the Yoon Suk-yeol administration to uphold the previous government's so-called "Three Nos" policy, which refers to no additional deployments of U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) batteries, no South Korean integration into a U.S.-led regional missile defense system and no trilateral alliance with the U.S. and Japan.
"Amid intensifying competition between the U.S. and China for regional hegemony, the recent Asian trip by U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has further complicated the situation," said Chung Jae-hung, a research fellow at the Sejong Institute.
Pelosi, the third-highest official in the U.S. government, toured five Asian countries, including Taiwan last week, drawing a strong backlash from the Chinese government. China considers Taiwan as a renegade province.
"In that regard, China is highly anticipated to take a harder line against us during the foreign ministerial meeting, so we have to explore ways on how to respond to its tough stance," Chung added.
Hours ahead of Park's departure for the eastern coastal city, the South Korean government's decision to participate in the chip partnership, also known as Chip 4 or Fab 4, came to light. The chip alliance also includes Japan and Taiwan along with South Korea.
According to media reports, Monday, a senior presidential official said South Korea had delivered its intention to the U.S. to join a preliminary meeting of the chip alliance, expected to take place at the end of August or in early September.
However, Chung said the THAAD issue would be much more urgent during the Park-Wang meeting. China claims that the system's powerful radar can be used to spy on Chinese military maneuvers and hurts its security interests.
"I think the THAAD issue would be a more complicated and volatile issue between the two sides as a security matter stands out due to its rupture with the U.S. over Taiwan," he said.
"In addition, the South Korean foreign minister maintains that the preceding Moon Jae-in government's Three Nos policy is not a commitment to China," he added.
Chung expected diplomatic friction between the two countries if the Chinese side urges South Korea to follow the existing policy over THAAD, while Seoul would reject it.
However, it remains to be seen how China will respond to South Korea's decision on the chip partnership, according to diplomatic observers.
"The chip sector is a key driver behind the nation's economy, so South Korea cannot comply only with China's claims," Chung said.
He also said the Chinese side should consider the possible fallout from its retaliation against Seoul.
"An economic issue is different from a security one and in addition, if China takes a tough stance, it may also face repercussions that would negatively affect its economy," Chung added.
Also, Park is not expected to receive a favorable response from Wang to the Yoon administration's "audacious plan" to deal with North Korea's nuclear issue. The plan includes offering economic benefits to Pyongyang if it gives up its nuclear program.
"China has called for a dual suspension to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue," Chung said.
The dual suspension, or a double freeze, means that North Korea suspends its nuclear and missile activities in exchange for the suspension of combined military drills between South Korea and the U.S.
"However, although South Korea and China may agree with the idea, the U.S. will not accept it, casting a shadow on the prospects of a resolution," the analyst added.
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