Mending of ties between China and ROK is good for region

The improvement in relations between China and the Republic of Korea is good news not only for the two neighbors but also for the region, since it signals the two sides are taking a pragmatic approach to the larger picture of bilateral ties, which will have a significant bearing on both peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and the forging of regional cooperation. After the ROK stated on Monday that it is not considering any additional deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense anti-missile system, and it will not participate in US defense networks or develop its security cooperation with Japan and the United States into a tripartite military alliance, the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced on Tuesday that the two sides have agreed to bring their relations back onto the normal track as soon as possible.

It was the decision by the previous administration in the ROK to deploy the THAAD anti-missile system in response to Pyongyang’s repeated reckless moves that put the freeze on relations, since China views the deployment as a threat to its security.

However, China and the ROK maintained communication regarding the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue through diplomatic channels, and they have agreed to enhance their communication, including through military-to-military channels, in pursuit of their shared aim of achieving a peaceful resolution to the issue.

Since both countries are important stakeholders in peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, their restored rapport will help them better coordinate their stances in response to the deteriorating relations between the DPRK and the US that threaten to spark a military conflict.

And by showing their shared will to properly handle their differences over THAAD, the two neighbors can now revive their economic cooperation and people-to-people exchanges, which have borne the brunt of the downturn in bilateral ties over past months.

This will also enable them to better fulfill their responsibilities and contribute more to regional integration by making concerted efforts.

As regional economic powerhouses, China and the ROK, along with Japan, have been long-time cooperative partners and participants in the regional integration process led by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, and they are being looked upon to play a bigger role in regional development by other countries in the region.

The thaw in China-ROK ties will hopefully be a shot in the arm to efforts to forge regional solidarity and cooperation at the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders’ Meeting in Da Nang, Vietnam, and the series of East Asia high-level meetings in Manila, the Philippines, next month.