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China Commits to Constructive Role on Korean Peninsula After Lee‑Xi Summit

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  • Chinese Ambassador to South Korea Dai Bing speaks during an interview with Yonhap News Agency at the Chinese Embassy in Seoul on Feb. 2, 2026. (Yonhap)
    Image: Yonhap
    Chinese Ambassador to South Korea Dai Bing speaks during an interview with Yonhap News Agency at the Chinese Embassy in Seoul on Feb. 2, 2026. (Yonhap) Source Full size
  • Chinese Ambassador to South Korea Dai Bing speaks during an interview with Yonhap News Agency at the Chinese Embassy in Seoul on Feb. 2, 2026. (Yonhap)
    Image: Yonhap
    Chinese Ambassador to South Korea Dai Bing speaks during an interview with Yonhap News Agency at the Chinese Embassy in Seoul on Feb. 2, 2026. (Yonhap) Source Full size

Ambassador Dai Bing Outlines China’s Constructive Policy Dai Bing told Yonhap that China will maintain a “stable policy” and play a “constructive role in our way” toward peace on the Korean Peninsula, emphasizing continued communication with South Korea and urging effective steps to resolve core security issues [1]. He did not specify what “our way” entails, leaving the exact mechanisms open to interpretation. The statement follows a series of diplomatic exchanges aimed at de‑escalating regional tensions.

Beijing Praises South Korea’s Tension‑Easing Initiatives Dai praised President Lee Jae Myung’s active engagement to restore inter‑Korean ties and revive stalled talks with the United States, describing Seoul’s efforts as highly appreciated [1]. He highlighted South Korea’s willingness to engage in dialogue as a key factor in easing peninsula tensions. This praise aligns with recent South Korean diplomatic overtures seeking broader regional support.

Lee‑Xi Summit Sets Backdrop for New Maritime Decisions The comments came after the Beijing summit in January where President Lee asked President Xi to act as a mediator on North Korea, and Xi advised patience while Lee floated arms‑control discussions [1]. The summit provided a platform for both leaders to discuss security and demarcation issues, influencing Beijing’s subsequent statements. The diplomatic context underscores the summit’s role in shaping China’s latest policy moves.

China Defends Yellow Sea Structures as Civilian Aquaculture Dai dismissed rumors that two buoys and a fixed tower built between 2018‑2024 were military installations, describing them instead as deep‑sea salmon farms and a fish‑farm management platform [1]. He labeled the allegations “baseless,” reinforcing China’s narrative of civilian use. This defense aims to counter accusations from neighboring states about covert militarization.

Removal of Fixed Platform Aims to Reduce Boundary Tensions Beijing announced it would dismantle the contested fixed platform as a follow‑up to the summit agreements, intending to ease maritime‑boundary disputes and advance demarcation talks based on mutual respect [1]. The removal is presented as a goodwill gesture to address South Korean concerns. It signals a willingness to make tangible concessions to improve bilateral relations.

Security Guarantees Proposed to Re‑Engage North Korea Dai identified security as the root cause of the peninsula stalemate and called for relevant parties to provide effective security guarantees, suggesting such measures could draw North Korea back into negotiations [1]. He implied that without credible assurances, Pyongyang would remain reluctant to participate. This proposal reflects Beijing’s broader strategy of linking security assurances to diplomatic progress.

Sources

Timeline

Dec 30, 2025 – President Lee Jae Myung announces a four‑day state visit to China from Jan. 4‑7, the first South Korean trip to Beijing since taking office and the first state visit since 2017, with a summit with President Xi, a Beijing business forum and a Shanghai stop to mark the Provisional Government centennial, accompanied by a delegation led by Samsung, Hyundai and SK Group leaders[26][27].

Dec 22, 2025 – Foreign Minister Cho Hyun confirms Seoul and Beijing are arranging the Lee‑Xi summit for early 2026, saying the talks will aim to persuade North Korea to resume dialogue, address China’s steel structures in the Yellow Sea, and reinforce stability on the Korean Peninsula[30].

Jan 2, 2026 – Lee reaffirms South Korea’s respect for the One‑China policy in a CCTV interview, stressing the stance remains unchanged amid heightened Taiwan Strait tensions and Beijing’s recent drills near Taiwan[21].

Jan 2, 2026 – Xi Jinping prepares to host Lee for a state visit, emphasizing that the meeting seeks to strengthen ties as China faces a diplomatic row with Japan over Taiwan remarks, and both leaders plan to discuss North Korea, rare‑earth supplies and Huawei AI chips[24].

Jan 2, 2026 – National Security Adviser Wi Sung‑lac announces that the upcoming summit will cover peace and denuclearisation on the Korean Peninsula, supply‑chain investment, digital‑economy cooperation and people‑to‑people exchanges, and that vice‑ministerial talks on Yellow Sea structures will be scheduled within the year[22].

Jan 2, 2026 – The Bank of Korea projects 1.4 % growth excluding IT, while North Korean leader Kim Jong‑un’s daughter Ju‑ae makes a rare public appearance at the Kumsusan Palace, underscoring regional volatility as South Korea readies Lee’s China trip[23].

Jan 4, 2026 – Lee begins his four‑day China visit, the first by a South Korean president since 2019, arriving in Beijing for a summit with Xi and a Korea‑China economic forum that expects more than ten MOUs on AI, green energy and tourism; the trip is framed against China‑Japan tensions over Taiwan and recent North Korean missile launches ahead of its party congress[3][20].

Jan 4, 2026 – In a pre‑visit CCTV interview, Lee stresses South Korea’s respect for the One‑China policy and calls Xi a “truly reliable neighbour,” positioning the visit as a chance to reset bilateral ties while maintaining the U.S. alliance[5].

Jan 5, 2026 – Lee arrives in Beijing, receives a ceremonial welcome from Xi, leads a business delegation that meets executives from CATL, ZTE and Tencent, and witnesses North Korea launch two hypersonic missiles hours before the summit, heightening security concerns[4][4].

Jan 5, 2026 – Lee and Xi hold a 90‑minute summit, sign 14 memorandums of understanding covering technology, trade and the environment, pledge regular top‑level meetings, cultural exchanges and consultations on Chinese steel structures in the Yellow Sea, but issue no joint statement[14][12].

Jan 5, 2026 – Lee declares that 2026 will be “the first year of full‑scale restoration of Korea‑China relations,” urges “pragmatic diplomacy,” and frames the visit as a turning point for cooperation on AI, K‑pop and Go, while noting China’s summit agenda omits explicit mention of North Korea[17][12].

Jan 5, 2026 – Lee asks Xi to act as a mediator on the Korean Peninsula, stating that inter‑Korean channels are “completely blocked” and that “zero trust” remains, and Xi responds that China will work to mediate and urges patience[8][9].

Jan 5, 2026 – Lee proposes a phased denuclearisation approach—freezing North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs first and exchanging incremental benefits—while noting Pyongyang has rejected returning denuclearisation to the negotiating table[2].

Jan 6, 2026 – Lee travels to Shanghai, visits the historic site of the Korean provisional government, attends a startup summit and a welcome dinner hosted by Shanghai Party Secretary Chen Jining, linking cultural heritage with venture‑capital cooperation[13].

Jan 6, 2026 – Lee and Xi hold a second summit in Beijing, with Xi urging both sides to “stand on the right side of history” and Lee describing the meeting as an “important turning point” for restoring full Korea‑China relations, while both leaders agree to hold vice‑ministerial talks on Yellow Sea issues within the year[14][12].

Jan 6, 2026 – Lee says China’s informal ban on Korean cultural content is “like a large lump of ice that melts gradually,” and Xi likens it to “a fruit that falls from the tree when it ripens,” indicating both sides will pursue detailed talks to ease the ban[8].

Jan 7, 2026 – Lee returns to Seoul, reiterates his request for China to mediate the North Korean nuclear issue, notes that all inter‑Korean channels are blocked, and reports that Xi has agreed to try to play a mediating role while urging patience[2][8].

Jan 7, 2026 – Lee raises China’s steel structures in the overlapping Yellow Sea waters, expects Beijing to remove part of them, and secures an agreement to hold working‑level talks on a median line later this year[7][14].

Jan 7, 2026 – Lee warns that South Korea’s past military pressure has made North Korea “extremely nervous,” and stresses that dialogue requires understanding the other side’s position, reflecting a shift toward de‑escalation[8].

Jan 8, 2026 – Lee tells senior aides that his China visit “lays a solid foundation for the full restoration of Korea‑China relations,” pledges pragmatic diplomacy amid China‑Japan tensions over Taiwan, and notes that vice‑ministerial talks on Yellow Sea structures will proceed within the year[6].

2026 (future) – Seoul and Beijing schedule annual defense‑authority exchanges and plan to hold vice‑ministerial talks on the Yellow Sea maritime boundary before year‑end, aiming to manage territorial friction and deepen security cooperation[15][14].

Historical context – The unofficial Korean‑wave ban on Chinese platforms stems from Seoul’s 2016 deployment of the U.S. THAAD missile‑defence system, which strained cultural exchanges and remains a lingering issue in the 2026 talks[1][12].

Historical context – South Korean leaders have not visited Beijing since 2019, and the last South Korean state visit to China occurred in 2017, making Lee’s 2026 trip the first in six‑seven years and a significant diplomatic reset[1][20].

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