Jaewoo Choo

Professor of Chinese at Kyung Hee University

jwc@khu.ac.kr

Without Core in Two Sessions

The Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) was held in China on Mar 4 and the National People's Congress(NPC) was held on Mar 5. It is well known as "Two sessions". Compared to previous years, however, there has never been a time when there was no content and remarkable story like this meeting. The NPC usually has one year to announce the results and achievements of the Chinese government, and this year to announce the direction and outline of the government's business. This is where they have time to report on the work of the government. What the world traditionally pays attention to in this report is economic policy. However, the latest report did not introduce any notable new policies.

To make matters worse, the press conference of the Chinese prime minister was cancelled from this year. The press conference of the prime minister was to explain China's economic policies in detail. The press conference that had existed since Jiang Zemin was inaugurated has disappeared from the National People's Congress. This is because the National Organization Act, which reduced the role and function of the prime minister, has been passed. It is not an exaggeration to say that the authority and responsibilities of the head of China's economic development policy and strategy have been transferred to President Xi Jinping. These signs were apparent when Xi started to assume all the chairmanship of the ‘the leading small group’(領導小組), a key decision-making organization within the CPPCC related to the overall economy, including economy and finance, during the second term of the CPPCC (2017-22).

Interest was maintained at the two sessions because the press conference of the Chinese Foreign Minister was held. Foreign Minister Wang Yi held regular press conferences of the two sessions on 7 march. What is noteworthy about this conference is the fact that Korea occupied a key position in Chinese diplomacy. In a speech in which he praised himself for the diplomatic achievements of the past year and expressed his ambition for the next year's diplomatic moves, Wang Yi promised a successful outcome of Chinese diplomacy. Nevertheless, he also expressed his concerns. We are directly or indirectly connected to the center of those concerns.

3 Concerns in China

China had three concerns. They include the U.S.-China relations, the Korean Peninsula and Taiwan. China's concerns over these three issues led to sharp warnings. The key message was that if China does not cooperate, it will face ‘the later results’. In other words, China's warning message is that if China does not respect its position and principles, the price will be paid.

Wang Yi said that the US-China relationship showed progress in improvement through the US-China summit held during the APEC summit in San Francisco in November 2023. In particular, he emphasized that Chinese President Xi Jinping re-emphasized the three principles of policy toward the US?mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, cooperation and "win-win" praised the US for accepting them. He also did not forget to emphasize that it is a basic line that will be maintained in the US-China relationship in the future.

According to his interpretation, the meaning of the three China’s policy toward the US is as follows. Mutual respect means a prerequisite for the development of the US-China relationship. Peaceful coexistence is a red line that the two countries should keep. It means that we must abide by the line that should not be crossed. If not, he argues that the cost of conflict between the two countries will be beyond imagination. He added that cooperation and "win-win" are the goals and driving force for the two countries to improve their relationship.

He didn't forget to pass the blame for all the causes of the US-China strategic competition to the United States. He once again emphasized that China does not have the challenges the United States faces. This is a position and view that China has consistently maintained since the beginning of the US-China strategic competition. He also emphasized that if the United States tried its best to pressure China, the damage would return to the United States itself. Therefore, the United States requested that China objectively and rationally face the inevitability of China's development without overlooking historical and global trends. He acknowledged this and demanded that he actively engage in exchanges with China. To this end,  Foreign Minister Wang Yi strongly insisted on the United States to 'consistency'.

Wang Yi emphasized a dual-track approach

He emphasized that the root of the problem is clear with regard to the Korean Peninsula issue. He stated that attention should be paid to the fact that the security issue on the Korean Peninsula has not been resolved. In other words, he requested that the world pay attention to the cause of North Korea's 'reasonable security concerns'. Wang Yi once again emphasized the stance of maintaining a 'dual-track approach ' to resolve the Korean Peninsula issue. This means solving the problem in a 'step-by-step parallel manner'. In the end, he explained the reason why the Korean Peninsula issue was not resolved was that there was no progress in a dual-track approach, that is, the failure to establish a peace regime. As is well known, China's claim to go to a dual-track approach since 2017 means 'the simultaneous establishment of the denuclearization process on the Korean Peninsula and a peace regime on the Korean Peninsula'.

At the same time, he did not forget that those who overcame peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula would have to pay the price. It was in the sense that further chaos could not be tolerated when the world was already confused. He was dissatisfied with the re-creation of the Cold War structure because of the problems on the Korean Peninsula. He also expressed the historical responsibility of those who were driven in this manner. Otherwise, he reiterated a warning that the price must be paid.

He also emphasized the cost of encouraging Taiwan's independence in the Taiwan issue. Minister Wang Yi reminded of the fact that China considers the act of encouraging Taiwan's independence to be a challenge to its sovereignty. He also warned them that they would pay a "cost of cutting their own flesh."

Requires sophisticated diplomatic principles and strategic response

From our standpoint, which is directly or indirectly related to these three issues, we need to come up with more sophisticated diplomatic responses (our principles and strategies). In the US-China relationship, South Korea is indirectly like a thorn in China side as an element of the Korea-US alliance. For this reason, it is true that the deterioration of the US-China relations could have a negative impact on China. China does not overlook this. Therefore, there is no other countermeasure than to give a stern warning to China. Under the pretext of strategic competition between the U.S. and China, we must make clear our position that we will stop thoughtlessly and indiscriminately invading our seas and skies. Otherwise, we must express that China is the one who drives us, which is relatively inferior in terms of China's military and national power, into collusion with the United States.

The same holds true for the Korean Peninsula issue. Due to the alliance between the parties concerned, neighboring allies are required to participate in the issue of peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula. In addition, China must strongly insist on the fact and reality that it cannot be an exception. This indicates that China is not free from the responsibility for security issues on the Korean Peninsula. Therefore, we must reiterate our call for China's more active participation and role in the issue of North Korea's denuclearization. The South Korea-US, and South Korea-US alliance cannot address North Korea's "due security concerns" alone. We must tell China that we are aware of the fact that China has been passive in security issues on the Korean Peninsula because of its intention to neutralize our seas and skies and attribute the Korean Peninsula to its defense domain.

The same holds true for Taiwan. China is frequently making military provocations, ignoring Taiwan's air defense identification zones and mid-line. China is showing South Korea this behavior. China intends to justify and rationalize its military actions for two reasons. China thinks that air defense identification zones and mid-line are international norms, not international law, so it acts with the idea that they are not legally binding. And China regards Taiwan as part of China and as a jurisdiction of China. However, China ignores Korea's air defense identification zone and midline because it is an international norm. At the same time, China is also doing what it does to Taiwan to South Korea. This is an act of China ignoring that Korea is a sovereign state. Since Korea is a sovereign country, China must be aware of the fact that international norms must be observed. We are not Taiwan. If China fails to comply with international norms, Korea should urge China to demarcate the maritime border as soon as possible.