hankyoreh

August 23 marks the fifteenth anniversary of the resumption of formal relations between Korea and China. Fifteen years ago, China had a per capital national product of US$400. Today, it looks forward to enjoying a GNP of US$2,000. Korea had a GNP of about US$7,500 at the time, and is now at US$20,000. Naturally each country was of help to the other in that growth. When diplomatic relations were established, trade amounted to US$6.3 billion. The first half of this year it was more than US$74 billion, a figure that compares to the amount of trade done with Japan and the United States combined. As of last year China became Korea’s largest export destination and ranked second in terms of where Korea imports things from, while Korea ranks as China’s second exporter and fourth largest export destination. Some 4.8 million people traveled between the two countries last year. 700,000 South Korean citizens are living in China right now, where there is a growing interest in things Korean.

It is geographical closeness, cultural similarities and common interests that have contributed to the growth in relations over such a short period of time. The two countries’ economies are mutually complimentary, and share the eventual goal of economic integration in Northeast Asia. They have also shared the same thinking in their approach to resolving the North Korean nuclear issue and in maintaining and strengthening peace in the region, and over the course of the last fifteen years have shown the world that they have what it takes to be leaders in the formation of a Northeast Asian community.

Relations are not entirely smooth, however. As seen in China’s distortions of ancient Korean history, most Koreans suspect China of going to unreasonable lengths to intensify its interpretation of itself at the center of things. China has also been unable to inspire full confidence on the part of Koreans in how China has handled the issue of North Korean defectors and in the sinking of a Korean ship on the West Sea this past spring. There have been several occasions in which Chinese diplomats in Korea have behaved in ways that conflict with diplomatic customs. China needs to be particularly careful so as to prevent these separate issues from harming relations and leading to a sense among Koreans that they need to beware of Beijing.

There are various issues that need to be resolved so that relations can continue to develop. Many observers question how long the same economic specialization that has existed so far can continue. This is something that could hurt the vary foundations of relations unless both countries work together on the issue. There also needs to be a shared consensus about the Northeast Asian order once the February 13 agreement on the North Korean nuclear issue is implemented, and there needs to be an understanding about economic cooperation between China and North Korea that considers post-reunification Korea. At the Sino-Korean summit of 2003 the two countries agreed on a “full cooperative partnership.” A long term perspective will be essential if that is to take root and advance to the next phase. The next fifteen years will be more important than the previous fifteen.