Time:2008/5/16 

May 14 2008, at the invitation of the School of International Studies at Peking University, a discussion by the “China-Korea Security Roundtable” was held at the Center for International & Strategic Studies (CISS). Leading scholars and others who attended the discussion were from various well-known institutions such as Tsinghua University, National Defense University, China Institute of Contemporary International Relations, Seoul National University, Sejong Institute, Sogang University, Chunbuk National University of Korea, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China. 

During the roundtable, the respective participants began their discussions by addressing two topics: the projected trends of Chinese-South Korean relations and the re-strengthening of the US-South Korea alliance under the newly established Lee Myong-bak government. 

Korean Scholars epitomized narratives regarding the foreign policy of the Lee Myong Bak government, and asked questions related particularly to China’s foreign policy in regard to the United States. South Korea’s new administration seeks solutions to the reinforcement of the US-South Korea alliance while continuing to pursue the policy of friendship with China that was implemented under the Roh Moo-hyun administration. 

    Chinese scholars asked heuristic yet technical questions in regard to US-South Korea Relations, in particular expressing their candid concern about issues such as whether the Republic of Korea (South Korea) would participate in the US-led missile defense program, and whether the newly established Lee government would abandon its existing engagement policy towards the People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea) to actively endorse the aggressive containment policy of the United States. 

In reference to the North Korean nuclear issue, scholars from both sides agreed on the point that maintenance of a denuclearized Korean Peninsula will certainly serve the best interests of both countries and contribute to the security and stability of Northeast Asia as a whole. In addition, Korean scholars expressed their candid view that avoiding military conflict with North Korea is in the national interest of South Korea. In doing so, they further expressed their intention to resolve the nuclear issue through engaged negotiation, rather than by means of military intervention. 

All participants of the roundtable also discussed other hot topics such as the reunification of the two Koreas, the rise of China, and the US factor in the improving general Chinese-Korean relations. 

The roundtable discussion between the scholars of both China and South Korea not only significantly enhanced the level of communication and mutual understanding, but also laid the scholarly foundation for promoting security and cooperation in Northeast Asia, and emphasized that more friendly relations between the two counties is of great significance. All participants hoped for a continuation of such productive discussion in the near future in order to generate alternative policy suggestions for more concrete development of the Northeast Asian security community.