By Nam Hyun-woo
The Chinese Embassy in Seoul lodged a protest, Thursday, against a Korean National Assembly delegation for its recent visit to Taiwan, stating the trip undermines Korea-China friendship.
"The visit seriously violates the One China principle and the spirit of the joint communique on the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Korea," the embassy's unnamed spokesperson said in a statement. "China expresses its firm opposition and strong protests."
According to the statement and announcement from Taiwan's foreign ministry, National Assembly deputy speaker Chung Woo-taik, Rep. Cho Kyoung-tae, the Chairman of Korea-Taiwan Parliamentarians Friendship Association and a number of lawmakers visited Taiwan from Dec. 28 to 31 and met Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and Legislative Speaker You Si-kun.
While the Taiwanese foreign ministry expressed "sincere welcome" for the visit, which was the first time for South Korean lawmakers since the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, the Chinese Embassy in Seoul described the trip as "an unauthorized visit."
The communique, which was signed on 1992 when the two countries formed their diplomatic relations, states that "the Republic of Korea recognizes the government of the People's Republic of China as the sole legal government of China, and respects China's position that there is only One China and Taiwan belongs to China."
"This is Korea's solemn promise to China and the political foundation of China-Korea ties and bilateral progress," the statement read. "We firmly oppose South Korea making any kind of official exchanges with the Taiwan region."
The statement continued that "Korea should recognize the risks of this incident and make timely measures to address any bad influences" and "we urge Korea to prudently respect the One China principle and the joint communique, and refrain from making any form of official exchanges with the Taiwan region."
China has been sensitive to foreign countries' exchanges with Taiwan. In August last year, China conducted live firing drills in protest to U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan.
The foreign ministry declined to comment in detail about the case.
During a regular policy briefing, Seoul's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lim Soo-suk said, "Our government has nothing to comment on lawmakers' individual activities."
Another foreign ministry official said, "We have conveyed our government's respect for the One China policy through diplomatic channels, and China replied that it understands our stance very well."
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| Chinese Embassy in Korea in Myeongdong, Seoul / Courtesy of Chinese Embassy in Korea |
"The visit seriously violates the One China principle and the spirit of the joint communique on the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Korea," the embassy's unnamed spokesperson said in a statement. "China expresses its firm opposition and strong protests."
According to the statement and announcement from Taiwan's foreign ministry, National Assembly deputy speaker Chung Woo-taik, Rep. Cho Kyoung-tae, the Chairman of Korea-Taiwan Parliamentarians Friendship Association and a number of lawmakers visited Taiwan from Dec. 28 to 31 and met Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and Legislative Speaker You Si-kun.
While the Taiwanese foreign ministry expressed "sincere welcome" for the visit, which was the first time for South Korean lawmakers since the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, the Chinese Embassy in Seoul described the trip as "an unauthorized visit."
The communique, which was signed on 1992 when the two countries formed their diplomatic relations, states that "the Republic of Korea recognizes the government of the People's Republic of China as the sole legal government of China, and respects China's position that there is only One China and Taiwan belongs to China."
"This is Korea's solemn promise to China and the political foundation of China-Korea ties and bilateral progress," the statement read. "We firmly oppose South Korea making any kind of official exchanges with the Taiwan region."
The statement continued that "Korea should recognize the risks of this incident and make timely measures to address any bad influences" and "we urge Korea to prudently respect the One China principle and the joint communique, and refrain from making any form of official exchanges with the Taiwan region."
China has been sensitive to foreign countries' exchanges with Taiwan. In August last year, China conducted live firing drills in protest to U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan.
The foreign ministry declined to comment in detail about the case.
During a regular policy briefing, Seoul's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lim Soo-suk said, "Our government has nothing to comment on lawmakers' individual activities."
Another foreign ministry official said, "We have conveyed our government's respect for the One China policy through diplomatic channels, and China replied that it understands our stance very well."
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