 Middle Power Diplomacy Initiative Working Paper No. 10 |
|
|
In this tenth Middle Power Diplomacy Initiative working paper, Dong Ryul Lee argues that China perceives the strategic value of South Korea not necessarily based on its respect for South Korea’s middle power status, but more on its perception of South Korea as the U.S.’ junior partner. Lee emphasizes that China has more concerns than expectation about South Korea’s middle power diplomacy because in China’s perspective, South Korea supports the status quo in the context of the existing U.S.-led order and South Korea’s role as a middle power in this setting might hinder China’s national interests. Therefore, Lee suggests that in order for China to support South Korea’s role as a middle power, South Korea needs to expand its independent diplomatic space beyond its identity as an U.S. ally and to participate in China-led economic and non-traditional security networks. 
| | |
|
