Chinese Envoy Warns Against South Korea's Nuclear Submarine Ambitions

Chinese Ambassador to South Korea, Dai Bing, stated on the 13th, regarding talks about South Korea's acquisition of nuclear-powered subm...

Chinese Ambassador to South Korea, Dai Bing, stated on the 13th, regarding talks about South Korea's acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines, "We hope South Korea will approach this issue with care, taking into account the concerns of all nations."

During a press conference with South Korean journalists at the Chinese Embassy in Seoul on the same day, Ambassador Dai made these comments, stating, "Cooperation between South Korea and the U.S. regarding nuclear-powered submarines extends beyond commercial aspects and is closely tied to the global non-proliferation system and regional peace and stability." Although he did not explicitly reference North Korea's nuclear weapons and nuclear submarine development, he voiced concerns about South Korea's talks on acquiring nuclear-powered submarines, citing issues like "the reversal of non-proliferation" and "increased military tensions."

In talks about the "modernization of the alliance" between South Korea and the U.S., Ambassador Dai remarked, "China fully respects the South Korea-U.S. alliance," but also noted, "If there is a shift in strategic goals through so-called alliance modernization, China's stance will also change." He further stated, "We hope the South Korea-U.S. alliance does not spark conflict regarding the Taiwan issue."

The modernization of the Alliance is moving in a direction where the U.S. seeks to give a more significant role to U.S. troops based in South Korea in addressing China's influence through "strategic flexibility." This is understood to imply that should U.S. forces be deployable in South Korea during a Taiwan-related crisis, China would have no alternative but to increase its reaction.

Ambassador Dai also addressed recent anti-China demonstrations in the Myeongdong district of Seoul, stating, "I believe the South Korean people are well aware of the reasons behind anti-U.S. and anti-Japan protests in South Korea," and further noted, "In contrast, China has not taken any actions that have harmed South Korea. Therefore, anti-China protests are fundamentally different from anti-U.S. and anti-Japan protests." The underlying message is that although there are justifiable causes for anti-U.S. and anti-Japan demonstrations, anti-China protests are being organized by specific groups for political motives, given that China has not committed any wrongdoing.

However, the claim that China has never harmed South Korea is far from the truth. After the deployment of THAAD in 2016, China imposed economic retaliations against South Korean companies and content. In particular, Hyundai Motor and Lotte saw their Chinese businesses falter due to the THAAD retaliation. The broadcast, gaming, and content industries also suffered significant damage from the “Hanhan Order” (限韓令), which restricted Korean culture. Recently, issues such as the illegal installation of steel structures in the West Sea (Yellow Sea) provisional measures zone (PMZ), illegal fishing, and China’s tacit support for anti-Korean sentiment within the country have been cited as ongoing causes of anti-China sentiment in South Korean society.

Concerning the newly proposed amendment to the Criminal Code by Representative Yang Bu-nam from the Democratic Party of Korea, which aims to address anti-China demonstrations, Ambassador Dai referred to it as "an internal matter within South Korea" and chose not to elaborate further. He also mentioned, "Any entity involved in damaging China's reputation will not gain the backing of the South Korean populace."

Ambassador Dai also referred to the steel constructions that China has illegally set up in the West Sea (Yellow Sea) provisional measures zone (PMZ) as "lawful actions in line with international law." He mentioned, "The facilities are deep-sea fish farming structures, targeting salmon," and noted, "They do not breach the South Korea-China Fisheries Agreement and do not affect the rights South Korea has under the agreement." He also said, "We hope this matter is assessed objectively and reasonably, without misrepresentation of facts."

Ambassador Dai described Chinese President Xi Jinping's recent trip to South Korea and the Gyeongju APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) summit as a success, referring to it as "a new milestone in South Korea-China relations." Ambassador Dai Bing noted, "South Korea has established a new government and returned its domestic and foreign policies to a normal path, showcasing the resilience of its society and people," and further mentioned, "President Xi Jinping's state visit has brought stability to an unpredictable world and offered fresh impetus to bilateral ties."

In reference to the latest tariff deal between the U.S. and China at their meeting, he remarked, “China's stance on the trade conflict is evident.” He further said, “If we confront each other, we will do so until the end; if we choose to talk, we will remain open to communication,” and noted, “It has already become clear that the trade war cannot overcome China. We are ready to build relations with the U.S. following the principle of mutual respect.”