Seoul remains low-key on Xi Jinping's Korean War speech
A visitor looks at a Chinese military uniform and equipment used during the Korea War at the Korea War Memorial Museum in Seoul, South Korea, Oct. 23. Chinese leader Xi Jinping condemned "unilateralism, protectionism and extreme egoism" in a jab at the United States at a rally Friday to mark the 70th anniversary of China's entry into the 1950-53 Korean War. / AP-Yonhap
By Do Je-hae
During a recent commemorative event for the Korean War, Chinese President Xi Jinping made remarks that were seen to glorify China's role in the war, which he defined as a fight against “imperialist invaders.”
His remarks are seen to underline the position held by China as well as North Korea that the 1950-53 Korean War was for “resisting U.S. aggression and aiding Korea.”
Xi took part in a ceremony and delivered a speech in Beijing on Oct. 23 to mark the 70th anniversary of China's entry into the Korean War.
From the South Korean point of view, Xi's remarks are a distortion of historical facts of the war, which was started by North Korea's founding leader Kim Il-sung's invasion.
Seoul pointed out the factual error with a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “The international debate on this has already been terminated and historical facts cannot be altered,” the ministry said in a statement. “We will continue to make necessary communication with the Chinese side on this.”
The Seoul government has opted for a low-key response, avoiding specifically targeting Xi. “As a member of the Cabinet, it is diplomatic practice to make an assessment of the perspectives of a Chinese leader,” Unification Minister Lee In-young said during a session at the National Assembly, Oct. 23.
Seoul has been trying to improve relations with Beijing, and has paid particular attention to realizing Xi's visit to Seoul this year despite the pandemic. In this regard, China's top diplomat Yang Jiechi made a rare visit to Busan.
Seoul's low-key stance on Xi's remarks on the war is seen as a way to avoid creating any factors that could hamper bilateral relations from moving forward amid Seoul's strong push for X's visit. But more importantly, some experts say inter-Korean relations also factor into Seoul's response.
“South Korea's weak response shows the desire of President Moon Jae-in somehow to get around the legacy of the Korean War while pursuing reconciliation with North Korea,” Donald Kirk, columnist and author on Korean Peninsula issues, told The Korea Times. “He clearly does not want to offend China when he's hoping not only for Xi to visit Seoul but, more importantly, for Xi to persuade Kim to agree to another North-South summit. President Xi Jinping's comments show China's strong support for the North against South Korea and make clear China will not seriously pressure Kim Jong-un to give up his nuclear program.”
Kirk added that Xi's remarks showed the multidimensional complexity surrounding Moon's latest pet project, seeking a declaration of the end of the Korean War officially as pledged in the 2019 Panmunjeom Declaration from the first of Moon's three summits that year with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
“Xi's remarks deepen the divide between the two Koreas, between China and South Korea and between China and the U.S., showing all sides remain far from any kind of agreement on North Korea's nuclear weapons and missiles,” Kirk said. “Moon would like an end-of-war declaration leading to a peace treaty, but he still has to blame North Korea and China for the Korean War. Obviously Xi is not going to recognize that claim. Nor is Kim.”
Some experts raise questions about whether Seoul's measured response is appropriate as the Chinese view of the Korean War could spread false understanding of history in the international community.
“Seoul has a responsibility to defend an accurate historical understanding of the Korean War, not only for the pride of its own people, but also to counter a revisionist narrative that seeks to reshape the rules-based international order,” Leif-Eric Easley, associate professor of international studies at Ewha Womans University in Seoul, told The Korea Times.
“China is one of only two countries that teach a fake history of the Korean War. The world cannot just ignore this, because the more Chinese public opinion and national power are motivated by nationalist distortions, the more dangerous they become to peace in Asia. Xi's speech shows that Seoul should pay more attention to China's treatment of history and assertive foreign policies.”
The speech is the first time since Jiang Zemin's in 2000 where a Chinese leader has spoken about the Korean War at the ceremony. The remarks are seen to be aimed at strengthening solidarity with North Korea and engineering public support amid the escalating U.S.-China rivalry. North Korean leader Kim sent flowers to the monument in Shenyang, China, Oct. 22, to mark the 70th anniversary of the Korean War, and has underlined the war anniversary as an occasion to reaffirm their special “friendship” built through the war.
Pyongyang has praised Xi's speech, saying that together they have changed the “world strategic structure,” according to its state media, the Korean Central News Agency.
“He noted that the Chinese People Volunteers fought bloody battles with the Korean people upholding the just banner of defending peace and rejecting aggression and achieved a victory 70 years ago,” a KCNA report said.