Chinese Thoughts on the North and South Korean Unification

The major factors, especially the well-established historical relations between China and the Korean peninsula, the close geopolitics relations, and the Korean peninsula with the Sino-U.S. interaction influences, affect the Chinese people's thoughts on the issue of unification between the two Koreas, and the division of the Korean peninsula is making it difficult for Chinese diplomacy. Some of the Chinese people are not willing to see the Korean unification that is mainly driven by national interest. But, everything has the dual character, i.e., a divided Korean peninsula causes troubles for Chinese diplomacy and has a number of negative effects on Chinese national interest.

China hopes that unification of North and South Korea will not have a negative impact on its own country in terms of national interest. The Beijing government is hoping for the emergence of a neutral or friendly unified Korea in China and the withdrawal of U.S. armed forces on the Korean peninsula. If that does not happen, China wants to at least maintain the status quo. On the other hand, South Korea does not want the withdrawal of U.S. troops from the Korean peninsula, which could cause military unrest on the peninsula, and hopes for a gradual and phased process of peaceful unification. While these differences are evident, the Chinese and Koreans are hoping for peace and stability between the two Koreas, dialogue and reconciliation, and multi-faceted exchanges and cooperation. In conclusion, they believe that easing tensions on the Korean peninsula and maintaining good relations between the two Koreas will contribute to leading peaceful unification.