appConfigEntityId

bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

isVideo

articlePageQuery

article

articleSchemaContent

content

hooksArticlePageAdvertisementConfigArticle

hooksArticlePageFloatingButtonConfigArticle

appConfig

filter

json

liveArticle

Dong Lei

The imposition of martial law in South Korea by President Yoon Suk-yeol was short-lived but the news reverberated globally, leaving many to ponder the depths of his political miscalculation. The move, which exacerbated his precarious position, is a stark reminder that leaders, regardless of their stature, are fallible. The gravest errors often stem from too intense a focus on self-serving interests at the expense of broader, more significant concerns.
US president-elect Donald Trump, known for his emotional and self-interested approach, attempted personal diplomacy with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during his first term, an overture that ultimately failed. Now, South Korea’s Yoon has employed a conservative, nationalist tactic – only to see it backfire spectacularly.
This should prompt more level-headed people in positions of power to reflect on the narrow, parochial perspectives that dominate decision-making within nations.
Further complicating the geopolitical landscape is North Korea’s reported dispatch of troops to Russia to support Moscow’s efforts in Ukraine. This audacious move is by no means a footnote in international relations; it is a harbinger of shifting allegiances and a recalibration of power dynamics in Northeast Asia. It also represents a significant failure by the international community to manage major power relationships and traditional conflicts.
For decades, China has been North Korea’s indispensable patron. Yet, Kim’s latest overture to Russian President Vladimir Putin suggests a strategic pivot that diminishes Beijing’s influence. This development is a stark reminder that, in international politics, alliances are fluid and loyalty is often a matter of convenience. The implications are profound, signalling a potential realignment of regional alliances that could destabilise the delicate balance of power in Northeast Asia.
The United States, ever vigilant in safeguarding its hegemony, views North Korea’s involvement in Ukraine with palpable alarm. This escalation complicates the already fraught US-China relationship, as Washington is likely to intensify its demands on Beijing to rein in Pyongyang.


But China’s leverage over North Korea is not as robust as it once was, making such demands increasingly difficult to fulfil. The intricate dance of diplomacy and power politics in the region underscores the necessity for a visionary leadership that transcends immediate national interests.
China’s paramount interest in Northeast Asia is stability. North Korea’s provocative actions threaten to destabilise the region, forcing Beijing to adopt a more cautious approach. The spectre of a destabilised Korean peninsula, with South Korea openly discussing the possibility of a nuclear weapons programme, is anathema to Chinese, as well as American, strategic interests, necessitating a delicate balancing act.
Beijing must navigate these turbulent waters with a deft hand, ensuring its actions do not inadvertently exacerbate the very tensions it seeks to mitigate.
China could become more vigilant, rigorously enforcing its export controls and cracking down on sanctions-breaching activities within its claimed waters. This would bolster its assertion that its expansive maritime claims are justified in upholding international norms. By showing a commitment to international law and order, China can also strengthen its position on the global stage with regard to its territorial sea claims and mitigate the risks posed by North Korea’s unpredictable behaviour.
The US must also reassess its policy towards China, often justified under the self-congratulatory banner of protecting democracy. The reality is that the US needs China.
Take the fentanyl crisis, for example. The US Congress select committee report in April on Beijing’s role in the US drug crisis is a regrettable smear campaign that has hampered joint enforcement efforts, making it harder to combat the opioid crisis.
That report essentially supported a notion that China and the Communist Party are pushing fentanyl to weaken the US, much as the 19th-century Opium War effort by the West weakened China. This is simply not true.


These anti-Beijing zealots in the US Congress bear as much responsibility for the fentanyl deaths as the drug cartels. Only by transcending narrow self-interests and striving to create a world that works for all can we hope to emerge from this era of darkness and rediscover the true purpose of humanity.
As we navigate these turbulent times, it is essential to recognise the cyclical nature of history and the importance of reflective understanding. This can guide us towards a more enlightened and harmonious future. We need to look beyond our immediate self-interests and embrace a broader, more inclusive vision.
The geopolitical shifts in Northeast Asia underscore the urgent need for leaders to transcend parochial interests and embrace a more holistic approach to governance. The challenges we face are not confined by national borders; they are global in nature and require a concerted effort to address. By fostering a spirit of cooperation and mutual understanding, we can navigate these turbulent times and lay the foundation for a more stable and prosperous future.
Take, for example, the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the world. In October, the Biden administration published a national security memorandum on AI, in what was seen by some as an echo of Cold-War-era documents. Unfortunately, the professionals who worked on AI strategy are focusing too narrowly on the perceived China threat. Some even claim that all cooperation with China must be played down to enable the many agencies and people in the US to prepare for a coming conflict.
Alas, this type of thinking risks a self-fulfilling prophecy. There will always be competition between the US and China, but they must also find ways to trust each other again.


How Hong Kong can keep the talking going when US-China officials don’t

UK confirms Manchester to host G20 summit in 2027

US, China need nuclear-style AI safeguards, congressman says before Xi-Trump summit

Top US Senate Democrat Jeanne Shaheen warns Trump not to waver on Taiwan ahead of Xi meet

Diplomacy

Korea instability should prompt US, China to put aside self-interests

Protesters take part in a candlelight rally calling for South Korea President Yoon Suk-yeol to step down, outside the National Assembly in Seoul on December 5. Yoon has now been barred from travelling abroad, less than a week after plunging South Korea into chaos by briefly imposing martial law. Photo: AFP

Is the world on the brink of total war?

Ukrainian soldiers fire at Russian targets in Donetsk, Ukraine, on June 24. Photo: AP

A staff member works at a chip manufacturing plant in Juye county, Shandong province, in November 2023. Photo: Xinhua

Why US foreign policy under Trump may be more stable and transparent

Donald Trump meets President Joe Biden in the Oval Office in Washington on November 13. Biden pushed a values-based policy, but ended up weakening America’s credibility as a force for democracy and human rights. Photo: TNS

A residential building in a Gaza refugee camp is hit by an Israeli strike on Thursday. Photo: Reuters TV via Reuters

US-North Korea relations: could a Trump-Kim summit be on the cards again?

US President Donald Trump and North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un talk before a meeting in June 2019 in Panmunjom. Photo: AFP via Getty Images/TNS

Alex Nelson Wong, Trump’s nominee for deputy national security adviser. Photo: Hudson Institute

Trump shakes hands with Russia’s Vladimir Putin in June 2019. Photo: AFP

A North Korean flag flies over the country’s embassy in Moscow. Photo: AFP

Putin and Kim attend an official welcome ceremony in Pyongyang for the Russian leader in June. Photo: Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP

Why Russia is finding favour in Southeast Asia once again

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Russian President Vladimir Putin sit next to each other at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Russia, on September 5. Photo: Roscongress Foundation via Reuters

A handout photo taken on November 28 from the armed forces of the Philippines shows a Philippine surveillance plane monitoring a Russian submarine, spotted 80 nautical miles from Mindoro island in the South China Sea. Photo: AFP

A collector and seller of Russian souvenirs poses at her shop in Hanoi, Vietnam, on June 16. Photo: Reuters

Then-Indonesian president-elect Prabowo Subianto (second left) shakes hands with Russian deputy prime minister Denis Manturov (right) during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin (far left) and Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov (centre), in Moscow, on July 31.

Opinion

Asia Opinion

China Opinion

World Opinion

News

Asia

China

Fresh geopolitical shifts underscore a need for leaders to transcend parochial interests and embrace a more holistic approach to governance


Fresh geopolitical shifts underscore a need for leaders to transcend parochial interests and embrace a more holistic approach to governance.


Korean peninsula

North Korea

South Korea

China-North Korea relations

China-South Korea relations

US-China relations: the Asian angle

US-China relations

Kim Jong-un

Russia

Ukraine war

Xi Jinping

Vladimir Putin

Yoon Suk-yeol

China’s Communist Party

Joe Biden

Artificial intelligence (AI)

Ukraine

Expresses the views, ideas and conclusions of the author. (Eg. Enough of Crazy Rich Asians, think of crazy poor Hongkongers.)


Korea instability should prompt US, China to put aside self-interests

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Fresh geopolitical shifts underscore a need for leaders to transcend parochial interests and embrace a more holistic approach to governance

Fresh geopolitical shifts underscore a need for leaders to transcend parochial interests and embrace a more holistic approach to governance