【Text/Observer Network columnist Xie Maosong】
From saying before his visit to Japan that "Japan has deeply apologized, Japan and South Korea should no longer confront historical grievances" and singing "American Pie" during his visit to the United States, South Korean President Yoon Seok-yue has become less and less disguised of his position. This extreme practice of acting as a thug in the United States reveals its unfounded vanity, and even more exposes its ignorance of self-knowledge, ignorance of current affairs, ignorance and fearlessness, and even provokes big with small things.
This kind of ignorance and fearlessness will undoubtedly greatly increase the security risks on the peninsula, change the security posture of the peninsula, bring Northeast Asia into a new cold war, and even open Pandora's box, replicate the Russian-Ukrainian conflict model in Asia, and endanger Asia's hard-won peace and stability.
This foolish practice of going against the historical trend of peace and development in Asia, luring wolves into the house, bullying the big with small interests, and being unprofitable and foolish may lead him and his country to the abyss and become sinners in Korea, Northeast Asia and even Asia.
First, Yin Xiyue's actions have touched three red lines
First, Yoon touched South Korea's nationalist red line.
Yoon Seok-yue's recent humiliation diplomacy of humiliation against the United States and humiliation with Japan can be described as consistent, which has greatly insulted the national self-esteem on which South Korean nationalism rests. Yoon Seok-yue, with the mediation of the United States behind his back, actually came up with a way for South Korea's own enterprises to set up a fund to pay labor compensation costs on the issue of Japan's forced requisition of South Korean labor compensation in World War II. Such a bizarre and ridiculous joke of the world and the great oppression of the world has greatly offended the national feelings of the Korean people. In the face of Japan's colonization in modern history, the most important thing that allows Korea to unite and stand on its feet today is its national pride.
So, what did Yin Xiyue get in exchange for appeasement of Japan?
During his visit to Japan, Kishida arranged for Yoon Seok-yue to eat his favorite omelet rice at the Lianwa Pavilion. Fumio Kishida's choice of "Tile Pavilion" is not arbitrary, but has ulterior motives, and "Wa" is the Blue House of the South Korean presidential palace, and it is refined as "exercise". The Japanese media also deliberately chose the shooting angle to broadcast the so-called "Yoon Seok-yue bowing to the Japanese flag".
From the perspective of the Japanese media NHK live broadcast screen, the South Korean flag is just blocked by the Japanese flag, and it looks like Yoon Seok-yue bowing to the Japanese flag with Kishida
In Kishida's view, South Korea is still like Japan's colonies, one head lower than Japan. Not only that, Yin Xiyue's appeasement of Japan is not in exchange for Japan's respect, but is even more despised by Japan. Japan has brazenly and intensified its textbook efforts to slap South Korea in the face and humiliate South Korea more substantively on the issue of Dokdo's sovereignty.
Yoon's humiliating appeasement of Japan has sparked a wave of criticism in South Korea. According to South Korean media reports, the declaration of the current situation by university professors who criticize the foreign policy of the Yoon government is spreading like a tide. Beginning with Seoul National University on March 14, professors and researchers from more than 20 universities have been issuing declarations on the current situation for nearly two months, mainly criticizing the third-party reimbursement case against the victims of forced labor conscription by Japanese imperialism, Yoon Seok-yue's statement that "Japan must kneel for 100 years ago," and other humiliating diplomacy that denies history, such as Yoon Seok-yue's statement that "Japan cannot accept that Japan must kneel for history 100 years ago," and low-profile responses to the suspicion of eavesdropping on US intelligence agencies, and fearing a unilateral diplomatic line that betrays national interests.
The National Priesthood of the Korean Catholic Church for the Embodiment of Justice also held prayer meetings in Seoul, Masan, Suwon, Gwangju and other places from April 10. As the title was "Pro-Japanese Traitor Procuratorial Dictatorship Yoon Seok-yue Stepping Down and Restoring Sovereignty," the level of criticism was extraordinary. It is reported that following the declaration of the current situation issued by the pastor of the Korean Supervisory Council last month, Protestants have launched a campaign to sign the declaration of the current situation.
Professors from more than 20 universities in South Korea, as well as Korean Catholics and Protestants, issued a declaration of the current situation, directly pointing to Yoon Seok-yue's "pro-Japanese traitor", which is comparable to China's May Fourth Movement more than a hundred years ago, which can be described as South Korea's May Fourth Movement.
Second, Yoon's appeasement and pro-Japanese also touched the nationalist red line shared by North and South Korea.
North Korea's direct accusation that Yoon Seok-yue is a pro-Japanese traitor can be described as a scornful argument, which can be discussed by the DPRK and ROK people, in sharp contrast to the national reconciliation and unity initiated by the "Moon Kim Hui" of the leaders of the two Koreas five years ago. The Washington Declaration announced an increase in the deployment of strategic US assets around the peninsula. Xiang Zhuang danced the sword, with the intention of Pei Gong, these strategic weapons first posed a major threat to North Korea's security and touched another red line of North Korea; At the same time, killing two birds with one stone, strategic deterrent weapons are essentially directed at China.
As the world knows, the United States is the biggest threat to the security of the peninsula, and the United States often holds joint military exercises with South Korea and Japan to threaten North Korea, constantly stimulating North Korea to test nuclear weapons in response to potential subversion by the United States and its henchman Japan.
Yoon Seok-yue lured wolves into the house, expanded the introduction of US strategic weapons into South Korea, and at the same time posed a major threat to the security of North Korea and China's strategic security, and the United States, which made its fortune in war again and again and is good at offshore balancing, naturally likes war gambling, which undoubtedly puts South Korea, which has no strategic depth, on the brink of war cannon fodder. What's more, South Korea's main economy and population are concentrated in Seoul, where the land of projectiles, Yoon Seok-yue's rash and risky moves provoke a Korean Peninsula War, which may cause South Korea to incur the danger of national destruction.
Third, Yin Xiyue has touched China's untouchable red line.
When meeting with Australia's deputy prime minister and defense minister in the past few days, Singapore's foreign minister pointed out that the Taiwan issue is the reddest of China's red lines, and Asian countries do not want to choose sides between Washington and Beijing. Singapore was hesitant between China and the United States when Lee Hsien Loong first came to power, but reality soon made it clear that Asian countries, including Singapore, should not choose sides between the United States and China. Southeast Asian countries, which are close neighbors of China, have also wisely made a general statement that they do not choose sides between the United States and China.
After Yin Xiyue came to power, he changed the relatively cautious, steady and wise foreign policy of his predecessor Moon Jae-in, vented out with one nostril of Japan, touched China's untouchable red line, and repeatedly took the initiative to provoke China on the Taiwan issue. At the same time, it also expressed its support for Ukrainian weapons and provoked Russia, another major power, which is extremely unwise.
His predecessor, Moon Jae-in, on the other hand, adopted a relatively balanced foreign policy, wisely not choosing sides between China and the United States, improving relations with North Korea, and neither offending nor flattering Russia. However, as for Japan, which refuses to apologize and admit its mistakes on historical issues, it resolutely stands on the standpoint of national righteousness and takes a clear-cut stand and demands that Japan admit its mistakes and apologize to South Korea for its colonial history.
Moon Jae-in tried his best to balance relations with China, the United States, and Russia, and tried his best to make peace with his neighboring compatriot North Korea, and Japan, which refused to admit its mistakes. These prudent, rational and prudent practices are in the national interests of South Korea and have won the hearts and minds of the Korean people.
As a small and medium-sized country, South Korea is in such a complex geopolitical structure around it, and it must be extremely sober in understanding this structure, and be cautious and cautious, rational and rational in order to protect the interests of its country and nation. This is really not easy, Moon Jae-in has been relatively wise, in contrast, Yoon Seok-yue is a complete gambler-style one-sided bet, provoking China, Russia, the two big countries and compatriot North Korea, while touching the red line of the three countries, is it possible that South Korea wants to take the initiative to find a joint attack by China, Russia and North Korea? At the same time, Yin Xiyue defended himself against the humiliating appeasement of the Japanese government of Fumio Kishida, who refused to admit its mistakes and apologize on historical issues.
All these unreasonable actions of Yin Xiyue have only one purpose, which is to please the United States. But in exchange for pleasing the United States? The so-called nuclear security and strategic weapons deployment provided by the United States are like turning the home into an arsenal full of danger, which will only make South Korea, which is in a small space, more likely to become cannon fodder. In terms of electric vehicle subsidies and chip restrictions that South Korean companies are most concerned about, South Korea has achieved nothing, and Yoon Seok-yue does not even dare to say a word, but was asked by the United States that South Korea cannot fill the gap of the American company Micron in the Chinese market. Samsung was fined a huge amount by the United States in intellectual property infringement cases, which accounted for two-thirds of Samsung's profit in the first quarter of this year, and the self-serving United States had to control and squeeze out its "ally" South Korea in high technology.
People of insight in South Korea criticized Yoon Seok-yue in the United States as equivalent to signing the Korean version of the "Plaza Agreement" and "voluntarily handing over" the semiconductor industry to the United States. Roh He-wook, president of the South Korean semiconductor industry structure advanced research association, said that the United States has laid a new economic security trap, and the South Korean semiconductor and battery industries have fallen into the net. The South Korean government's principle of "separation of politics and economy" has fallen apart, and South Korean companies and economies have been wrapped up in geopolitical variables, "the South Korean government's emphasis on economic security and siding with the United States has made South Korean companies and economies hostage."
An ally such as the United States is a "friend", but it is really a "friend" that harms friends and self-interest, and is by no means a "good friend". Not only that, as Kissinger said, being America's friend is deadly.
Yin Xiyue's trip to the United States ended up with only a few English speeches, which satisfied Yin Xiyue's self-satisfied personal vanity, but lost national autonomy, which may lead his country and nation into the abyss of war. So unprofitable and intellectual, non-politicians so-called, even politicians can not talk about it, then only an explanation can make sense - Yin Xiyue is willing to become a lackey raised by the United States, and by barking at China a few times, to win a compliment from the American master.
Yoon Seok-yue sings "American Pie" during his visit to the United States
Second, a lack of historical awareness, a lack of understanding of politics, and an understanding of the general trend of history lead to incorruptibility, ignorance and fearlessness
Why Yin Xiyue made such an unwise behavioral choice, in addition to his willingness to become a lackey of the United States, the deeper thing is that Yin Xiyue, who has always been a prosecutor, lacks historical awareness and does not understand politics, resulting in not being able to see the general trend, ignorance and fearlessness, and ignorance and fearlessness do not know whether to advance or retreat, and survive.
It should be pointed out here that the South Korean prosecutor's office mechanism against the president is itself a means set up by the United States to control disobedient leaders in South Korea, and Yoon Seok-yue, as a prosecutor, knows this. Moon Jae-in had to reform and reduce prosecutorial powers before leaving the presidency in an attempt to free South Korean leaders from U.S. control in the future.
Yoon Seok-yue, who had been a prosecutor before becoming president of South Korea, completely lacked historical awareness, so he repeatedly bowed to Japan on historical issues, was shameless, lost national integrity without knowing it, and said that this was "100 years ago", so he could not ask Japan to apologize, so all 114 professors at Sookmyung Women's University criticized "President Yun's ignorant understanding of history is dismal, even shocking."
The Japanese government's lack of reflection and apology for its colonial history is in stark contrast to Germany's deep reflection on Nazi crimes and its legislation, which led to German-French reconciliation based on the premise of genuine reflection from the inside out. The history of Japanese aggression and colonization is not only history for Korea and Asia, but also about people's hearts, about moral upholding, and even more about the place where the nation is founded. As the leader of the South Korean government, Yoon Seok-yue was completely unaware of this, so it was inevitable that he would be criticized by professors of major Korean countries, Catholics and Protestants as a humiliating and traitorous diplomacy against Japan, thereby losing the hearts of the Korean people.
Because of the lack of historical awareness, Yin Xiyue described the rout of the US army at Changjin Lake as a miracle, and then US Secretary of State Acheson called the battle "the longest defeat in history", I don't know if this is Yin Xiyue's illusion of self-deception, or he really thinks so.
Because of the lack of historical awareness, it is impossible to see the general trend of history, so there is a lack of strategic thinking and no knowledge of national autonomy. Yin Xiyue could not clearly see the victory of China in resisting US aggression and aiding Korea in those years and the fear and respect of the US military for the volunteers, and even more so he could not see clearly the situation of the growth and decline of today's Sino-US game, and still less could he see the great changes that had not been seen in a century.
Yoon Seok-yue said that Japan has deeply apologized, and Japan and South Korea should no longer confront historical grievances
In this regard, as the president of France with an independent tradition, Macron sees very clearly, Macron firmly promotes European strategic autonomy, which is also strongly supported by China, so Macron has received a high standard of reception in China, and China and France have also signed large orders with each other. However, Sino-French relations are not targeted, dependent on, or subject to third countries. These can be very different from Yin Xiyue's visit to the United States.
The major European countries far away at the western end of the Eurasian continent have seen the general trend of history, but Yin Xiyue, who is so close to China, is not as good as Europe, and has become short-sighted, as if he wants to follow the example of Japan leaving Asia and entering Europe and leaving Asia and entering the United States. In a short period of time, countries de-dollarized, and RMB settlement exceeded that of the United States for the first time; China's economy is gradually recovering, and the leaders of major countries in the world have lined up to visit China, especially France, Germany, the main allies of the United States in Europe, and Brazilian leaders in Latin America in the backyard.
The United States really sees it in its eyes and is anxious in its heart, it cannot let China, Japan and South Korea get closer, and it must pull a few South Koreas that it can control to bluff, want to arch the fire on the peninsula, turn the peninsula into a powder magazine, create a war crisis, and vainly try to let global capital and industry flee China. Yoon Seok-yue can't see the general trend at all, but he doesn't know his autonomy, the fox fake tiger power, and the self-satisfaction, but it will be the Korean people who will suffer in the future.
Because of the lack of historical awareness, Yoon Seok-yue does not see that the United States may one day abandon and sacrifice South Korea without hesitation like it withdrew its troops in South Vietnam and Afghanistan, of course, Yoon Seok-yue will not care about such a distant matter. Yin Xiyue definitely can't see the high profile of the United States towards Taiwan, but in fact he may bluff and make systematic preparations for the abandonment of Taiwan in the future, just like the United States made various preparations before giving up South Vietnam. Every time the United States gave up its lackeys, it would bring the lackeys to the United States alone, just like Nguyen Van Thieu in South Vietnam.
Because of his lack of historical awareness and lack of understanding of politics, Yoon Seok-yue said that "Japan is beautiful, Japanese people are very upright," and that "the sons and daughters of the United States sacrificed their lives to defend a country they never knew and people they had never met." Yoon Seok-yue worked hard to learn English before visiting the United States, and his behavior in English is "naive", completely naïve and ignorant, and in essence non-political ignorance.
When Yoon Seok-yue said, "Japan is beautiful, Japanese people are upright," Ahn Chung-geun, the Korean righteous man who assassinated Ito Hirofumi, didn't know how he would feel if he knew about it. Of course, Yin Xiyue's consciousness will not have An Chonggen at all. Yoon Seok-yue's ignorant words revealed his complete disregard for Japan's invasion and occupation of South Korea, and the fact that the US stationed troops in South Korea made South Korea a vassal of the United States. South Korea's politics, military, and even science and technology and industry are heavily dependent on the United States and lack autonomy, and Korean women are insulted by American soldiers and have no choice.
Because of the lack of historical awareness, Yin Xiyue also does not understand the geopolitical structure of Northeast Asia, let alone how small and medium-sized countries such as South Korea are cautious in this structure, so as to lack strategic thinking, will bully the big with small, thinking that it will be fine to bolster the owner, bark a few times for the owner and even bite, thinking that China will look at the face of the owner when it beats a dog, but will China beat a dog to see the face of the owner?
Third, beat the dog without looking at the owner's face: ignorant and fearless, play with fire and self-immolation with small provocations
The original intention of Yin Xiyue's approach was probably to use small to make a big deal, but in fact, it was to provoke big with small. When there is a lack of history, a clear view of the general trend of history, and a lack of autonomy, it will hurt itself like a child playing with fire. This fire is not an ordinary fire, but the fire of the sword soldiers, and the "Four Years of Zuo Chuan Yin Gong" says: "The husband soldier, the fire is also the fire, and the Fu Gong will also burn himself." ”
From Confucius to Mao Zedong of New China, Chinese civilization has put morality first in its handling of world and international relations, and the so-called "righteous, benefit and harmony". As a big country, China has always been the most solid force for maintaining peace, stability and development of small neighboring countries.
The fact that big countries do not rely on the strong to bully the weak does not mean that small countries can provoke big countries at will. If a small country regards the benevolence and righteousness of a big country as nothing, and intends to act as a lackey at the instigation of another big country to actively provoke a big country, the power of the "might" of a big country will be displayed.
South Korea currently has no advantage over China in science and technology, and its so-called economic policy of getting rid of dependence on the Chinese market and going south has had little effect. Even the top officials of the United States have repeatedly shouted for China to visit China, hoping that China can save the US economy, but China is unmoved by those who are not sincere. Yin Xiyue also shouted to China and Russia recently, hoping that the two countries would exchange high-level visits and that China would take care of the commercial interests of Korean companies in China, which was really as brazen as his master, and China and Russia also ignored it.
Yin Xiyue's series of provocative practices against China since taking office have completely lost his political credibility, and if a politician loses his political credibility and cannot be trusted in his words and deeds, then he is nothing as a politician.
If Yin Xiyue wants to truly improve relations with China, he must clearly understand the situation, change his course, and regain his stance. If Yoon Seok-yue, a prosecutor by training, feels constrained by the United States and cannot learn to emphasize autonomy by the leaders of large and medium-sized countries, such as France's Macron and Brazil's Lula, he might as well return to his predecessor Moon Jae-in and Singapore, which is also East Asian. Unable to see clearly the geopolitical structure of the peninsula, without an international grand strategy, how small and medium-sized countries can deal with themselves, Yin Xiyue should learn from Singapore, and Southeast Asian countries generally do not choose sides between China and the United States.
How to deal with the relationship between small countries and big countries, small things are big and big things are small, small things are not simple is a question of the size of the country, because all countries are equal regardless of size, but the size of the country is related to the objective structural problem. Only by picking up historical awareness, recognizing the structure, trembling, and walking on thin ice can we be prudent and wise in order to benefit our own political future, our own country, and Asia. Otherwise, we will eventually isolate ourselves from the Korean people, from the peninsula, and from Asia.
On the afternoon of March 11, 2023, local time, representatives of several South Korean civic groups gathered on the road in front of Seoul Metropolitan Government Square to hold a large-scale rally to protest the compensation plan announced by the South Korean government for victims of Korean labor who were forcibly expropriated by Japan during World War II
Is the Korean version of the May Fourth Movement breaking out?
Starting from Seoul National University, more than 20 universities in South Korea have issued statements protesting Yoon Seok-yue's pro-Japanese betrayal, Korean Catholics and Protestants have organized protests against Yoon Seok-yue, and the recent demonstrations directly demand Yoon Seok-yue's resignation.
There are two paths in front of Yoon Seok-yue, one is to continue to adhere to the road of pro-Japan and pro-US traitor, and the other is to change course and return to the previous path of Moon Jae-in's relatively independent and balanced diplomacy. If Yoon Seok-yue ignores the continuous demonstrations and protests of the South Korean people over the past few months and continues to insist on being the enemy of the South Korean people, the South Korean people will see more and more deeply the essence behind Yoon Seok-yue's true face of being pro-Japanese, pro-American, traitorous and going all the way to the dark.
Its essence lies in the fact that Yoon Seok-yue is a puppet supported by the United States, and Yoon Seok-yue represents the right wing of South Korea, that is, some of them are controlled by the United States or colluded with the United States, and it is these chaebols who collude with the United States that make South Korea's politics, military, science and technology, and industry controlled by the United States and become vassals, and the vast number of middle and lower classes, especially the vast number of young people, will never see the future under the deformed capitalist structure of the suzerainty of the United States and its affiliated South Korean chaebols controlling South Korea.
These chaebols are not at all the national bourgeoisie from the standpoint of the Korean nation, but have the nature of new compradors dependent on the United States, and these chaebols control politics and combine with politics to form "bureaucratic compradors", that is, right-wing forces. Because of their intrinsic dependency, these right-wing bureaucratic compradors will not hesitate to sell the country for their masters under the pressure of their masters. They are fundamentally enemies of the broad masses of the people, while the progressives temper the chaebols for the benefit of the broad masses of the Korean people, pursue fair and reasonable social ideals, and advocate reconciliation between the North and the South and friendship with China, so they are not tolerated by the right.
In this sense, from the perspective of history, the demonstration movement from all walks of life in South Korea to protest Yoon Seok-yue's betrayal and demand Yoon Seok-yue's resignation from power from all walks of life since March is the "May Fourth Movement" in South Korea, which means a new awakening of the Korean people.
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