Cho Hyun, Minister of Foreign Affairs, "Maintain Good Relations with China, Urge Compliance with International Law"

[Financial News] Cho Hyun, Minister of Foreign Affairs, mentioned the Lee Jae-myung government's diplomatic policy towards China in an interview with foreign media. He stated that while maintaining good relations with China, they plan to cooperate with the US and Japan to ensure China does not threaten the international order.
Minister Cho said in an interview with the Washington Post (WP) released on the 3rd (local time), "For us, it is another issue that China poses some problems to neighboring countries in Northeast Asia." He assessed, "We have seen what China has done in the South China Sea and the Yellow Sea. Economically, China has developed too well and too quickly, becoming a competitor."

He said, "We have become quite wary of China's rise and challenges. However, we want to send a message to China that 'we want to maintain good relations and see China comply with international law not only in bilateral but also in regional issues.'" He continued, "In that regard, we will also cooperate with Japan," claiming that he had similar discussions when he recently met with the Japanese Foreign Minister and Prime Minister in Japan.
Minister Cho said, "I talked about the new challenges we face in the region. But at the same time, I noted the need to engage with China. Simply trying to block China will not be as effective as we want." When asked if he conveyed such a message to the US, he replied, "I emphasized that all this will be achieved in good cooperation with our ally, the US." Earlier, Minister Cho visited Washington DC on the 31st of last month and met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, officials from the Donald Trump administration, and congressional figures.

When asked about discussions between Korea and the US regarding US Forces in Korea, Minister Cho replied, "We are talking with the US, but there are no concerns about US Forces in Korea. We think US Forces in Korea will remain as they are now, and their role will be the same as today." Regarding the impact of a reduction of US Forces in Korea on Korea-US relations, he said, "It's a hypothetical question, but I don't think it will happen. I met with several senators this time, and they all assured me it wouldn't happen."

When asked if President Donald Trump of the US felt that Korea was extorted in tariff negotiations, Minister Cho replied, "(The US) did not specifically target Korea to correct trade imbalances." He added, "We know the US government, Trump, wants to reduce trade imbalances, and we have come up with a proposal that is 'win-win' for both countries." He continued, "We can reduce the trade surplus with the US, but at the same time, we can maintain a lead in some manufacturing sectors. We think doing so is very important not only for us but also for the US due to the geopolitical challenges we face in Northeast Asia."
Additionally, when asked if there was anything Korea could not concede in trade negotiations with the US, Minister Cho said, "I know some specifics of our position, but I will not say them. It's better to enjoy the sausage without discussing the process of making it."

Meanwhile, when asked if Korea will shift its policy to recognize Palestine as a state, Minister Cho said, "Right now, we are focused on ourselves, but we will clearly watch the developments in the region and at the UN." He added, "However, we feel vulnerable to the changing situation in Northeast Asia, and frankly, we do not have the luxury to look into what is happening in other parts of the world."

 


pjw@fnnews.com Park Jong-won Reporter