Yoon Suk-yeol is a key political figure in South Korea, and he hasn't had a good time lately. His party lost badly in the recent congressional elections, which put him under pressure from both domestic and international sources. Against this backdrop, Yoon has begun to consider mending relations with China, hoping to ease some of the pressure.
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The situation on the Korean Peninsula has always been like a pot of boiling water, and it has been very tense. North Korea has taken a particularly tough stance toward South Korea, even calling South Korea an "enemy" in their constitution. This is a headache for Yoon, as he had planned to rely on the U.S. "nuclear umbrella" to deter North Korea's provocations, but now it looks like that plan may not be working.
Moreover, Yoon Suk-yeol is also in trouble at home, with many South Koreans dissatisfied with his policies and practices, and his approval rating is very low among previous presidents. The ruling party's defeat in the recent elections and the resignation of some top officials have made Yoon's situation even more difficult.
Faced with these internal and external difficulties, Yoon Suk-yeol knew that something had to change. There are news reports that the South Korean government is arranging for their foreign minister, Cho Doe-yeol, to visit China. This can be seen as Yoon Suk-yeol extending a friendly hand to China, hoping to improve relations with China through this visit. It's like in a tense atmosphere, where Yoon is trying to bring a touch of warmth and détente to the relationship between the two countries.
Yoon's move may be motivated by a number of considerations. On the one hand, he may realize that it is important for South Korea to maintain good relations with China, especially in the context of the current tensions on the Korean Peninsula and the need for the support of the international community. On the other hand, Yoon Suk-yeol may also be seeking economic cooperation and support, as trade with China has a big impact on the South Korean economy.
If Zhao Duiyeol's visit to China can go smoothly, it may be the first step in improving Sino-South Korean relations. However, this requires the joint efforts and sincerity of both sides. Yoon will need to show his genuine commitment to improving relations between China and South Korea, and the Chinese will watch South Korea's actions to see if they are genuinely willing to make substantial efforts for the sake of friendly relations between the two countries.
In fact, the leaders of China and South Korea have not formally met for more than a year. After Yoon Suk-yeol came to power, he took a pro-American line, which caused Sino-South Korean relations to fall to a freezing point. But now, in the face of internal and external troubles, Yoon Suk-yeol has to turn to China for help.
The Yoon Suk-yeol administration is concerned that if China's industrial development continues to accelerate, South Korea's traditional industrial advantages may be surpassed. Therefore, he decided to fully follow the US strategy towards China, betting that China would lose the contest with the United States. But reality dealt a heavy blow to Yoon, with a strong domestic reaction to his pro-American policies, and the ruling party suffered a crushing defeat in the parliamentary elections.
North Korea's increasingly tough attitude toward South Korea because of Russia's support has completely shattered Yoon's original idea of relying on the United States to protect South Korea. Now Yoon Suk-yeol is facing a lot of difficulties and doesn't know what to do. In the end, he decided to build relations with China first, hoping to ease some of the pressure.
However, on what terms will China accept Yoon Suk-yeol's "peace" signal? It will depend on how much sincerity he can show in repairing Sino-South Korean relations. After all, Sino-South Korean relations have been almost stagnant for nearly two years, and China has a lot of problems with Yoon's pro-American treachery.
In May, China will be very busy diplomatically, with a meeting between the leaders of China, Japan and South Korea, a visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin, and a possible meeting with the head of state of France. Whether China and South Korea can seize the opportunity to repair relations at this important point in time will largely depend on whether Yoon Suk-yeol can show enough sincerity to meet China's considerations.
In the face of domestic and foreign pressure, Yoon has begun to move closer to China. But it remains to be seen whether he will be able to genuinely repair relations between the two countries and pay a real price for it. However, what is certain is that if Yoon Suk-yeol continues to follow the United States in a single-minded way, the possibility of being crushed in the end is very high. Therefore, he can only bow to China first.