[Editorial] Rising Concern Over Korea-China Joint Statement

Contents of the joint statement issued by the leaders of South Korea and China late night on July 8 are considered disappointing results of President Roh`s state visit to China. The two countries` huge differences in approach to ending the North Korean nuclear issue were clearly showed in the joint statement, while failing to seeking practical solutions to address pending issues such as the nuclear dispute. The 11-point joint statement includes some positive aspects such as promoting bilateral exchanges and cooperation. However, those positive contents were overshadowed by demonstrated their huge differences in the nuclear issue.

President Roh had to explain his problematic statement that talks among concerned parties should be started again from scratch, when a controversy had been erupted over his intention of the wording. Setting aside inflated expectation of the results of the South Korea-China summit talks, what problems will lie ahead before South Korea at the aftermath of the summit talks is posing a serious concern at this point.

The biggest problem of the statement is that it shows the South Korea`s failure in enlisting China`s support for multilateral nuclear talks while including the clear wording of granting the North security guarantee from the US in it. It is concerned that North Korea will hold on to its previous stance on three-way talks excluding South Korea while both the US and Japan won`t trust South Korea any longer. President Roh`s remark on Taiwan will limit South Korea`s diplomatic leeway down the road. The South Korean government should have made such a concession to its counterpart on a reciprocal basis at least by taking the issue with China`s treatment of North Korean defectors.

The government`s poor diplomatic performance in China cannot be excused by its lack of international influence. Above all, the government has to concern over how the US and Japan will react to the president`s remarks during his visit to China. President Roh should take a major responsibility for all the problems. In addition, the president should ease the public confusion caused by the summit talks with the Chinese leader, following similar confusions after the summit talks with the US and Japan.

The Sino-Korea summit talks were the third summit talks for the Roh`s government. Therefore, the government`s diplomatic failure cannot be excused by its lack of experience. It should recognize the diplomatic blunder was caused by its lack of capability. The president and accompanying officials during the state visit to China should look back all the process of the summit talks not to repeat the same mistake in the future.