China And Korea Relations In Terms Of Economic Matters (Coursework Sample)

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The History of PRC and ROK Relations
The Korean War is termed as the Cold War. According to Weathersby (91), the ending of the Cold War between North Korea and South Korea has not yet reduced the hostility between the two countries. The Korean War is believed to have started when the North Korea wanted to unite with the South Korea, who was allied with the USA. Korea had become two countries divided by an imaginary line, one Communist and the other Democratic. Tim Lambert states that North Korea attacked the South Korea on June 25, 1950; they had a moment of victory after capturing Seoul. However, the UN Security Council deployed their people to assist the South Korea. The UN troops attacked and liberated Seoul. Chinese people volunteered and formed a troupe under the name Chinese People’s Volunteer Army (CPV) accounting for one hundred and eighty thousand people. They crossed to assist the North Korean armies; they fought aggressively since the US troops had crossed the 38th Parallel (Zhou 1).
The explanation on why the People’s Republic of China intervened in the Korean War is still puzzling since the PRC was preparing for war with Taiwan. The PRC economy was also unstable facing high inflation, deficiency of substantial resources and tight fiscal budget. In summary, PRC situation was profoundly unfavorable for intervention (Zhou 1). The war invasion of PRC was dependent on the Soviet Union equipment. However, the US troops had more developed and advanced combat equipment that were unmatchable. The Chinese felt the frustration because they had limited supplies and there was limited involvement of the Soviet Union in the air force (Xiaoming).
In the summary provided, the reason the PRC intervened the Korean War is that they had already established a relationship during World War II when during the time they fought under several partisan groups and were under the command of both the Chinese and Soviet military forces (Bechtol 45). According to Zhou (1), another reason for the intervention of Chinese might be that they were concerned about their security because the USA posed a threat to them. However, the security issue is in question since China had signed a treaty to be protected by the Soviet Union in case it found itself in military confrontations, especially from imperialists’ countries.
Additionally, Zhou points out is that, since China was assured of Soviet protection under the treaty, it was not only concerned about its physical security that the US troops posed a threat to as they moved close to the Chinese border, but also the developmental constraints it might result in the mainland of Chinese. Mao stressed that they would intervene if the USA if they proceeded near the border. China was deeply concerned with the fact that if Americans were to conquer Korea and settle there, the Chinese would be forced to focus its military resources on the North-eastern border area, which would be financially expensive and harm the political status (Zhou 1). The North-eastern area contained the significant resources (steel, hydropower, and coal) that would support China in the economic reconstruction and recovery. The threat to the economic reconstruction and recovery posed by the American troops in North Korea and the Taiwan Strait was a significant reason for the PRC to intervene to secure both its North-eastern border area and the Southern coastline. Additionally, the need to counter anti-Communist activities and reinforce the CPP’s government was significant reasons to drive the Beijing intervention in the Korean War. However, the Korean War ended on July 27, 1953, in a stalemate; a cease-fire was signed, and the Korea remained divided by the 38 parallel (Lambert).
Lack of Official Bilateral Relations before the 1990s between PRC and ROK
According to To (61), after the World War II, PRC links with the Southeast Asia were not close, but the end of Cold War era ensured the relations strained further. The ideological division and the Communist activities made China separate itself from the Southeast countries since they were mostly Democrats. In 1967, the Association of Southeast Asia Nation (ASEAN) was established, and the Republic of Korea was a part of it. The PRC met the ROK with mutual suspicion and hostility, and this made it difficult to establish any bilateral relations. China saw the ROK as if it was under the rule of the Western countries and thus; avoided any economic and political association with them. Additionally, China held back because it had to be cautious; it had political and economic relations with North Korea.
Official PRC and ROK Relations
The ROK and China had amicable diplomatic relations on 24 August 1992. According to Hwang (1), the ROK and China commenced and signed an agreement that maintained the two countries would have peaceful co-existence guided by the good neighbor policy and practice principles of reciprocal equality. They would embrace ‘one China’ and ‘peaceful amalgamation of the Korean Peninsula.’ The establishment of the signed joint statement opened a new phase in the ROK-PRC relationship, and the diplomatic ties manifest progress to countries that were consumed with hostility.
Beijing had started reaching out to the ROK in the 1970s since it was economically advantageous compared to North Korea but it had to be careful because the Republic of Korea was allied with the United States. With the introduction of the ‘open-door’ policy in the 1970s, China was driven by an ambition to improve relation with ROK. The associations would result in economic stability, cooperation with the neighboring country, technology advancement and the establishment of new investment firms (To 61). The diplomatic relations paved way for the Republic of Korea to set up trade offices, carry out trade missions between the two countries efficiently and have political representatives who could offer political consultation in both countries (To 62).
The Benefits of PRC and ROK relations
The PRC and ROK have established profound positive impacts on each other. China has been able to develop its respective sectors such as communication, information, transportation, and politically. In 2012, Korea was the third biggest trader of China and from 1992 when the trade figures were six billion dollars; in 2012, it had increased to two hundred and fifteen billion dollars. ROK manufacturers have expanded their market to China because of its technological advancements, especially in communication and information sectors. According to Hwang (1), the South Korea investments have made China economically stable and encouraged market expansion for exports. The education channels have been upgraded such that, the Chinese students can school in ROK and vice versa thus strengthening their bilateral relationships further. The tourism and transport sector in China is booming and generating substantial revenues due to the direct flights took between both countries, as per 2013 they were eight hundred and eleven (Hwang 2).
The non-economic relations between ROK and PRC have strengthened too; they include political and social associations. China and ROK have been consulting each other concerning the politics, which has created the political mutual trust (Hwang 2). The two nations are striving together to undertake the mutual security threat facing them in North Korea, Nuclear subject. The social associations are enhanced through intermarriage between the ROK and Chinese. The ROK citizens are learning Mandarin as well as English. China has found a reliable partner in ROK and can operate together smoothly because they operate in the same dimension concerning the international issues and have the goal of protecting the Korean Peninsula, which acts as a buffer (To 66). In a period of twenty-three years, they have achieved in developing economically, socially, culturally and politically.
Current Relationship between ROK and PRC
The Chinese and ROK leaders recently upgraded their bilateral relations to the strategic cooperative partnership. The leaders have accessed how much they have achieved under the principles of reciprocal equality, economically and trade, political stability and culture integration. Using these benefits, PRC and ROK have strengthened their future cooperation and maintained the international standards that will result in regional and international peace and enhancement of human welfare (Hwang 4). However, the issue of South Korea deploying Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) from the USA is putting a strain on their relationship. China has openly opposed the deployment of THAAD and has declared the issue will determine their future relationship. China has requested South Korea to consider their concerns and worries (Jung-Yeop). The South Korea Defense Ministry have urged China not to exert their influence their security policies.
However, China continues to stand strong concerning the anti-missile issue. China believes South Korea as a sovereign state should find other means of protecting themselves from the North Korean threats rather than using THAAD whose sole ‘purpose’ is to safeguard the USA troupes from North Korea and Russia. Despite the complaints and concerns from the Chinese government, the ROK Minister of National Defense has applauded the USA potential deployment of THAAD because it will be helpful...