The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    Disgraced ex-minister's daughter says she feels proud, qualified as a doctor

  • 3

    Ex-gov't employee summarily indicted for alleged attempt to sell Jungkook's lost hat

  • 5

    Coupang reveals Asia's largest fulfillment center in Daegu

  • 7

    Seoul city zeroes in on foreign residents' unpaid taxes

  • 9

    Korean Peninsula may face fallout from balloon saga

  • 11

    SM founder Lee Soo-man returns home, in hospital to treat arm fracture

  • 13

    Rescuers race against time as Turkey-Syria quake death toll passes 5,000

  • 15

    Apple confirms launch of Apple Pay in Korea

  • 17

    K-pop stars and dating

  • 19

    South Korea steps up efforts to resolve issue of aging separated families

  • 2

    Singer Lee Seung-gi to marry actor Lee Da-in in April

  • 4

    SM in internal feud over founder's exit from producing

  • 6

    Tiger endures 3 years of solitary confinement in closed zoo

  • 8

    'Celebrity forests' emerge as new K-pop trend in Seoul

  • 10

    Netflix survival show 'Physical 100' attracts viewers with sweat, muscle and human story

  • 12

    Peak Time: Survival show for lesser-known K-pop boy bands to hit air

  • 14

    Ex-justice minister, daughter blamed for unrepentant attitude over academic fraud

  • 16

    PHOTOSTurkey-Syria earthquake

  • 18

    INTERVIEW'Korea, US can create synergy in space industry': NASA ambassador

  • 20

    Seoul narrows in on new slogan

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
Thu, February 9, 2023 | 22:10
Editorial
More concern than hope
Posted : 2021-09-16 17:04
Updated : 2021-09-16 17:54
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
China should not try to pit Korea against US

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's two-day visit to South Korea raised more concern that hope over relations between the two countries which will mark the 30th anniversary of their diplomatic normalization next year. He cannot deflect criticism for trying to undercut the South Korea-U.S. alliance and failing to condemn North Korea for its launching of two ballistic missiles.

On Wednesday, Wang expressed his objection to a U.S. legislative move to expand the America-led "Five Eyes" intelligence alliance by including South Korea and three other countries. He derided the move as an "outdated" byproduct of the Cold War era, after meeting with South Korean Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong in Seoul.

The U.S. House Committee on Armed Services recently passed a defense authorization bill that would require the Biden administration to consider expanding the five-way intelligence alliance to include South Korea, Japan, India and Germany. The alliance is currently composed of the U.S., Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

Minister Wang seemed to be against the move which he apparently believes is aimed at forming a wider international coalition against China amid the intensifying Sino-U.S. rivalry. "I think that is utterly a byproduct of the Cold War era. And that is already outdated," he told reporters. His remarks suggested that Seoul refrain from joining the Five Eyes. They also certainly reflected China's animosity toward the U.S.

Wang was apparently seeking to issue a warning to the administration of President Joe Biden which is trying to rally the U.S.'s allies and partners behind its efforts to check the rise of China. Biden pledged to focus more on the Indo-Pacific region after completing the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan. So Washington is expected to engage in an ever fiercer competition with Beijing over wide-raging issues such as China's human rights abuses, the Taiwan issue, and frictions over trade and technology.

However, it is regrettable to see Wang turning South Korea into a battlefield to confront the U.S. He appeared to go out of his way to take China's anti-U.S. sentiment out on the South, one of America's traditional allies. It is wrong for him to apply more pressure on Seoul to prevent it from moving closer toward Washington. Such pressure can be seen as nothing more than China attempting to intervene in South Korea's foreign policy.

Equally dumbfounding is Wang's remarks about North Korea's military provocations. The North fired two ballistic missiles into the East Sea, Wednesday, after it launched new types of cruise missiles over the weekend. The ballistic missile launch is a flagrant violation of the U.N. Security Council resolutions on North Korea. But, Wang stressed the need for concerned countries to exercise restraint to prevent a unilateral military action from causing a "vicious cycle" of tensions on the peninsula. As for the North's cruise missile tests, he also said that other countries engage in such military activities.

Now we cannot help asking the question: Why was he visiting South Korea? If he wanted to use his visit as leverage to counter the U.S., this was exhibiting diplomatic disrespect to the host country. We urge Wang and his country to have a sincere attitude to strengthening partnership with South Korea based on mutual respect and trust, instead of trying to drive a wedge between Seoul and Washington.


 
Top 10 Stories
1Korean Peninsula may face fallout from balloon saga Korean Peninsula may face fallout from balloon saga
2[PHOTOS] Turkey-Syria earthquake PHOTOSTurkey-Syria earthquake
3Daughter-centered photos, title of honor reinforce speculation over North Korea succession Daughter-centered photos, title of honor reinforce speculation over North Korea succession
4SM's management dispute to benefit KakaoSM's management dispute to benefit Kakao
5[INTERVIEW] 'Growth slowdown can accelerate depletion of retirement pension fund' INTERVIEW'Growth slowdown can accelerate depletion of retirement pension fund'
6National Assembly votes to impeach interior minister for Itaewon tragedy National Assembly votes to impeach interior minister for Itaewon tragedy
7Key real estate owned by McDonald's Korea excluded from sale Key real estate owned by McDonald's Korea excluded from sale
8Philip Morris seeks to surpass KT&G in e-cigarette market Philip Morris seeks to surpass KT&G in e-cigarette market
9SM6 Feel attracts customers with popular options, low price SM6 Feel attracts customers with popular options, low price
10Korean companies move to support victims in earthquake-hit Turkey, Syria Korean companies move to support victims in earthquake-hit Turkey, Syria
Top 5 Entertainment News
1SM in internal feud over founder's exit from producing SM in internal feud over founder's exit from producing
2Peak Time: Survival show for lesser-known K-pop boy bands to hit air Peak Time: Survival show for lesser-known K-pop boy bands to hit air
3K-pop stars and dating K-pop stars and dating
4Investigation into Yoo Ah-in's alleged drug use likely to affect release of his films, series Investigation into Yoo Ah-in's alleged drug use likely to affect release of his films, series
5Kim Ok-vin, Yoo Teo show enemies-to-lovers dynamic in 'Love to Hate You' Kim Ok-vin, Yoo Teo show enemies-to-lovers dynamic in 'Love to Hate You'
DARKROOM
  • [PHOTOS] Turkey-Syria earthquake

    [PHOTOS] Turkey-Syria earthquake

  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group