Will South Korea draw closer to China if ties with US worsen under Trump?
Beijing may also see a potential new administration in Seoul as an avenue to improve ties between both sides, analysts say
While some believe a more balanced South Korean foreign policy less tilted towards the United States and Japan might take shape under a new administration, others suggest Seoul’s strategic ties and Beijing’s economic competition with Washington may limit progress in ties between the two East Asian countries.
Jae-Hung Chung, director of the Centre for Chinese Studies at Sejong Institute, a South Korean think tank, said China could view the potential for leadership changes in South Korea as an opportunity to adjust their bilateral relations.
“Under South President Yoon Suk-yeol, Seoul aligned more closely with the US-Japan framework, often seen as countering Beijing’s interests in the region. A new administration could provide an opening for Beijing to advocate for greater neutrality or even collaboration on regional issues,” Chung said.
After Yoon’s martial law decree was quickly reversed earlier this month, the country’s National Assembly voted to impeach him following a massive public outcry.
While the South Korean constitutional court deliberates on Yoon’s fate in the weeks ahead – with the first pretrial hearing to be held on Friday – the president continues to face a ban on foreign travel.
