[AP / Yonhap]
The principle that security issues should never be compromised is appealing. Security is a top priority in foreign policy, but the question is how much we can yield to China. China and the United States are basically competitive. It is hard to expect China to abandon North Korea and allow South Korea to absorb it. It is our task to take all of these factors into account and keep our security at its best.
The United States is snubbing China's stance to swap North Korea's nuclear development for an end to the ROK-US military exercise. Our security situation is not affordable enough to consider stopping it. China is aware of this and its demand is probably aimed at undermining the ROK-US alliance. The same is true of THAAD retaliation. In the future, China can take similar measures to weaken the alliance.
China, which has waited for the time until its ability is completed, is now demanding that the United States regard it as a great power. China is also forcing us to treat it as a great nation. Meanwhile, the United States is closely watching how our position is changing. The US position is changing as we walk a tightrope between the two countries. The alliance is reciprocal, even if the United States will not shake us like China. If the United States feels that we are neglecting the alliance, it will also take action.
We are now in a fatal tightrope between the United States and China. It has never happened before. As seen in THAAD retaliation, China is ready to shake the rope at any time. It is trying to break the Northeast Asian order backed by the ROK-US alliance. Right now we are not in a position to jump off the line. However, we may need to be ready at any time.
