Chinese daily blasts Korean criticism of Great Wall`s length

A Chinese state-run newspaper has blasted as a "groundless provocation" criticism by Korean media and academia of China’s extension of the length of the Great Wall to the realms of the ancient Korean kingdoms of Goguryeo and Balhae.

The Global Times, the English-language newspaper of the People`s Daily, the official newspaper of the Chinese Communist Party, reported in detail Korea’s backlash against the extension. The report said Korean media called the Great Wall “a rubber band.”

On Tuesday, China’s State Administration of Cultural Heritage announced the length of the Great Wall as 21,196 kilometers, including the parts built in the territory of Goguryeo and Balhae.

The Global Times quoted Lu Chao, an anti-Korea scholar at the Liaoning Academy of Social Sciences, as saying Korea’s criticism of this measurement was “meaningless.” He also said China is a multicultural country and the territory of the Great Wall was established by various ethnic groups in different periods. Lu added that the Great Wall, including certain Goguryeo-era relics, is part of Chinese culture and heritage.

While claiming that certain Koreans said the Chinese measurement was politically motivated, he said, " It is ridiculous to claim that the part built by Goguryeo should not be included into the Great Wall because Goguryeo is their ancestors’ country. Goguryeo, Lu said, can be a topic for academic discussion, but Koreans cannot question China’s survey of its own historic relic.

mungchii@donga.com