South Korea’s new president is making a carefully timed move — and all eyes are on Beijing.
President Lee Jae Myung is meeting Xi Jinping as he tries to thaw relations with China, Seoul’s biggest trading partner.
Why now? Because when economics, pop culture, and regional security collide, diplomacy gets complicated.
This is Lee’s first China visit since taking office — and the first by a South Korean leader since 2019.
Relations soured under his predecessor, but Lee wants a reset.
“This visit will be a new starting point,” he said, promising to restore ties and “upgrade them to a new level.”
Trade Reassurance Sought
At the heart of the talks: reassurance. Experts say Lee wants confidence that China won’t weaponise trade during political disputes.
“China may speak softly, but its message is clear,” notes China scholar Park Seung-chan.
“It wants South Korea to lean its way — and distance itself from Japan.”
That’s easier said than done. Seoul is a US ally, respects the One China policy, and is walking a tightrope as tensions over Taiwan flare.
Add North Korea’s missile tests, China’s quiet squeeze on K-pop, and disputes over maritime structures — and the agenda fills fast.
So is this a balancing act or a breakthrough? Lee’s Beijing visit suggests one thing: in Asia’s power chessboard, standing still isn’t an option.
