China-South Korea ties: empty ambassador chair highlights complications in relationship

While Seoul this month announced its new envoy to Beijing, China has been without an ambassador to South Korea for over 3 months

Reading Time:3 minutes

Xing Haiming left the position as China’s ambassador to South Korea in July and has not been replaced, sparking discussion about the complexity of the China-South Korea relationship. Photo: YNA/dpa

Published: 8:00pm, 29 Oct 2024Updated: 8:05pm, 29 Oct 2024

China has been without an ambassador in South Korea for more than three months, the longest vacancy since the two countries established diplomatic ties.

Some diplomatic observers said the choice of a new ambassador might reflect the need to consider a growing number of geopolitical challenges, but others said the delay may not have any special significance and suggested Beijing may have other diplomatic priorities.

Beijing has made no announcement on its next ambassador since Xing Haiming left the position on July 10, having served in the role since January 2020. The embassy is currently run by Fang Kun, the chargé d’affaires.

05:24

North Korea has reportedly sent troops to Russia; Will South Korea give 'lethal' weapons to Kyiv?

Recently vacancies in China’s ambassadorial roles to the European Union and the United States have also been left unfilled for an extended period.

In May last year, former foreign vice-minister Xie Feng was appointed as ambassador to Washington, a role that had been vacant for almost five months, the longest period since US-China relations normalised in 1979.

Last month, China’s former ambassador to Israel Cai Run became the country’s new envoy to the European Union, filling a vacancy that had been open since March.

According to Chung Jae-hung, director of the Centre for Chinese Studies at the Sejong Institute in Seoul, complex geopolitical tensions might require China to consider more factors when selecting its candidate for South Korea than had previously been the case.