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Korea, China in talks to hold vice FM dialogue next month amid China-Japan tensions

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By Yonhap
  • Published Nov 25, 2025 5:26 pm KST
President Lee Jae-myung, right, and Chinese President Xi Jinping shake hands before the Korea-China summit at the Gyeongju National Museum in North Gyeongsang Province, Nov. 1. Yonhap

President Lee Jae-myung, right, and Chinese President Xi Jinping shake hands before the Korea-China summit at the Gyeongju National Museum in North Gyeongsang Province, Nov. 1. Yonhap

Senior diplomats from Korea and China are expected to hold talks on bilateral relations and other shared issues next month, sources said Tuesday, amid rising tensions between China and Japan following Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's remarks about Taiwan.

The two countries are in talks to arrange a "strategic dialogue" between First Vice Foreign Minister Park Yoon-joo and Ma Zhaoxu, China's executive vice foreign minister, in Beijing in December, according to sources familiar with the matter.

If held, the talks would serve as a follow-up to the recent summit between President Lee Jae Myung and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders' meeting in Gyeongju on Nov. 1.

Xi made a state visit to Korea, his first trip in 11 years.

The vice ministers could discuss the escalating tensions between Beijing and Tokyo, after Takaichi suggested that a military attack on Taiwan could prompt a response by Japan's Self-Defense Forces, calling it a "survival-threatening situation" for Japan.

China has strongly denounced Japan and urged Takaichi to retract her "erroneous" remarks, with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi saying Japan has "crossed a red line."

In apparent retaliation, China has advised its people against traveling to Japan and suspended its recent decision to resume seafood imports from the neighboring country.

China considers Taiwan, self-governed since it broke away from the mainland in 1949, as part of its territory that must be reunified by force if necessary, and it has strongly objected to any country that challenges this stance.

Should the strategic talks take place, Park and Ma could discuss the Taiwan issue in light of the China-Japan row.

The two sides may also discuss Korea's push to build nuclear-powered submarines, a move that U.S. President Donald Trump has approved after his summit talks with Lee in Gyeongju.

China has voiced concern over Seoul's drive to acquire the strategic asset.