‘Global Times’ criticism of S. Korea is not China’s stance’

The Dong-A Ilbo recently held an interview with retired Chinese diplomat Wu Jianmin, 72, in Beijing. Here is excerpts from the interview.

― Critics worldwide are expressing fear over China’s dominance as a threat.

Accusations of China as a threat stem from three factors. First, critics lack understanding of China. Second, they believe that if China becomes powerful, it will seek (global) hegemony like the former Soviet Union, where the Communist Party took power. Furthermore, the rise of a country with a population of 1.3 billion is unprecedented in human history and causes other peoples to feel uneasy. The notion that China is a threat is here to stay for a long time. But we will show the world that China’s rise is beneficial not only to China but also to the world.

― The notion of China as a threat is spreading to South Korea as well.

I served as the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s spokesman when South Korea and China formed diplomatic ties in 1992. Nobody predicted bilateral relations would make progress so fast. This is because such ties are beneficial to both sides. There is the saying, "Facts prevail over eloquence." The claim that China is a threat will wane.

― Certain Chinese media outlets, including the Global Times, seem prejudiced in their reports on South Korea.

The Global Times hardly reflects the Chinese government’s position. Criticism of South Korea exists in China but this doesn`t mean China doesn`t value South Korea. Chinese people can also find certain South Korean news reports offensive. It is natural for verbal disputes to exist between China and South Korea, and they are momentary and short-lived.

― North Korea committed provocations like the sinking of the South Korean naval vessel Cheonan and the shelling of Yeonpyeong Island. Yet Beijing does not support this idea.

Is there any foolproof evidence on (who committed) the Cheonan sinking? If the evidence was clear cut, China would have opposed such an act. Following the Yeonpyeong attack, the Chinese government clearly expressed regret over South Korean casualties.

―Did Beijing express regret to Pyongyang?

No. Beijing expressed regret over the act. We were informed by Pyongyang that North Koreans also died.

― South Korea came under artillery attack without warning and South Koreans were killed first. The South Korean victims also included civilians.

To the Chinese people, South and North Koreans are the same people and brothers. North Korea killed South Koreans with artillery guns and South Korea killed them with guns as well. South Koreans hoped that China clearly criticized North Korea, but North Korea also claimed that its people died.

― WikiLeaks unveiled about a month ago that a ranking Chinese diplomat told a ranking South Korean official, “A South Korea-led reunification (of the Korean Peninsula) is desirable.” The Chinese ambassador to Seoul also reportedly criticized Pyongyang’s currency reform as ill-advised.

What diplomats say in public and private is different (in nature). What a diplomat says in private doesn’t necessarily reflect Beijing’s stance.

― So how do you consider the comment on a South Korea-led reunification?

This is something that the two Koreas need to discuss.

― The world wants China to induce change in North Korea.

The international community including South Korea is urging China to play an adequate role in changing North Korea. I don’t understand what “adequate role” means. Americans frankly told China to ask the North to do this and that with foreign aid we provide to North Korea. But our aid to North Korea is humanitarian, and if we stop this, North Koreans will die.

― South Korea approached inter-Korean relations based on the perspective of the 10-year rule of the progressive Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun administrations. But the North did not change.

There are only two ways to address the South Korean issue: dialogue and struggle. Struggle will entail immense pain. To be frank, even if South and North Korea go to war, China will not participate.

― North Korea violated China’s two principles on the Korean Peninsula – stability and denuclearization of the peninsula -- through its shelling of Yeonpyeong and the disclosure of its uranium enrichment facilities. Nevertheless, China has simply urged no fighting without giving a response.

We will sternly take action under this principle.

― North Korea unveiled its uranium enrichment facilities, right?

North Korea claims that the facilities are meant for peaceful use.

― Does this mean China accepts this?

Or course, the United Nations should conduct a nuclear inspection and find out what those facilities are for.

mungchii@donga.com