SEOUL, February 3 (YONHAP): China is determined to play a constructive role “in our way” to ensure peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, according to Beijing’s top envoy, who expressed hopes that involved parties will take “effective” measures to address core security challenges.
In an interview with Yonhap News Agency on Monday, Chinese Ambassador to South Korea Dai Bing discussed Seoul’s efforts to restore inter-Korean ties and revive the stalled talks involving North Korea and the United States. Although Pyongyang has rejected these overtures, the Chinese envoy conveyed support for Seoul’s initiatives.
“Since the launch of the Lee Jae Myung administration, South Korea has actively pursued efforts to ease tensions and foster dialogue on the Korean Peninsula. The Chinese government highly values these efforts,” Dai noted via an interpreter.
“China remains steadfast in its policy and stance on Korean Peninsula issues. We will continue to play a constructive role and maintain open communication with South Korea,” he added, though he did not specify what he meant by “our way.” This statement comes after a summit between President Lee Jae Myung and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing.
Seoul has consistently urged Beijing, North Korea’s traditional ally and main economic supporter, to facilitate the resumption of negotiations with Pyongyang. Nuclear diplomacy between North Korea and the United States fell apart without an agreement in Hanoi in 2019.
Following talks with Xi, President Lee revealed in Shanghai that he requested Xi to mediate on North Korea issues, to which Xi responded with a call for “patience.” Lee also suggested engaging Pyongyang in arms control discussions, emphasizing that a strict focus on denuclearization may not yield progress given North Korea’s advancing nuclear and missile capabilities.
“The root cause of issues on the Korean Peninsula is security,” Dai remarked. “We hope relevant parties will prioritize the security aspect and implement effective strategies accordingly,” hinting that offering security guarantees might entice North Korea back to the negotiating table.
Regarding China’s steel structures in disputed Yellow Sea waters, Dai dismissed “baseless rumors” alleging military purposes, stressing they were meant for aquaculture. These concerns arose after China placed two buoys and a fixed structure in the region from 2018 to 2024. China described them as fish farms and management infrastructure, though some skeptics in Seoul suspect potential military motives.
Dai clarified, “Some individuals have spread false information to exaggerate differences between China and South Korea. These structures are for salmon farming, not military use,” he affirmed.
China announced last week it would dismantle the fixed platform from the overlapping waters, seen as an extension of agreements from last month’s summit between leaders.
“We hope both nations can advance talks on maritime boundaries and progress positively by respecting each other’s legitimate concerns,” Dai concluded.
