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Now that South Korea and China have reached a breakthrough in negotiations toward a free trade agreement, the two countries’ economies are set to become even more interconnected. But following the decision to once again delay the transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON) of South Korean forces, South Korea is becoming more dependent on the US for its security needs. This is leading to concerns that the South Korean tendency to rely on the US for its security and on China for its economy is becoming even more entrenched.

Since South Korea and China established diplomatic relations in 1992, the basic arrangement between the two countries has been enthusiastic interaction in economic affairs but chilly cooperation in politics. Indeed, economic exchange is what has spurred improvement in bilateral ties over the past two decades.

China is South Korea’s number one trading partner, and South Korea is China’s number three trading partner. The value of trade between South Korea and China in 2013 (US$228.9 billion) was greater than South Korea-US trade (US$103.5 billion) and South Korea-Japan trade (US$94.6 billion) combined.

But the two sides have thus far achieved little meaningful cooperation in the areas of politics and security.

One good example is the high-level strategic talks for diplomacy and security that President Park Geun-hye and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to set up during Park’s visit to China in June 2013. This diplomatic channel is supposed to link South Korea’s Chief of National Security at the Blue House with China’s State Councilor in charge of foreign affairs. But thus far, only one meeting has been held between these officials, when Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi visited South Korea in Nov. 2013.

South Korea has also been cool about the multi-national dialogue forum that China has been promoting.

In May 2013, after Xi Jinping took office, China invited Park to attend the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), a multilateral summit that China was hosting for the first time.

Instead, South Korea had Unification Minister Ryoo Kihl-jae attend the meeting. It is unusual for the unification minister - instead of the foreign minister - to attend a multilateral conference of this sort.

In contrast, South Korea has lately been strengthening its cooperation with the US in the areas of politics and security. During the Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) held last month, the two countries announced what was essentially an indefinite postponement of the OPCON transfer.

American officials have also made a series of remarks about plans to deploy and operate the THAAD (terminal high altitude area defense) in South Korea, a system that is aimed at China. China has openly warned South Korea that their relationship could be threatened by efforts to deploy THAAD in South Korea.

Analysts believe that South Korea will soon realize the limitations of its “two-timing” strategy of relying on China for the economy and on the US for security.

“THAAD is a security issue, and China’s opposition has put South Korea in an awkward position. The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) promoted by China is an economic issue, and South Korea has delayed taking a position because of US complaints about the proposal. With the strategic rivalry between the US and China intensifying, it is becoming more difficult for South Korea to rely on one power for security and the other for the economy as it has until now,” said Kim Han-kwon, director of the Center for Regional Studies at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies.

As a result, other experts are suggesting that South Korea needs to adopt a strategy of putting more emphasis on China in the areas of military affairs and security and to seek diversity and balance in the economy, increasing trade with ASEAN countries.

“The North Korean issue is one that attracts the interest of other countries and one about which we can take the lead. This is an issue about which we could pursue military and security deliberation with China,” said Kim Jun-hyeong, professor at Handong Global University.

By Kim Oi-hyun, staff reporter

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