South Korea summons Chinese ambassador accused of criticism of Seoul

New tensions between Beijing and Seoul. The Chinese ambassador to South Korea criticized Thursday, June 8, the proximity between the United States and the country of the Morning Calm, which did not fail to react the South Korean government. A comment deemed provocative and intolerable by the latter, which recalls that Korea does not have to be dictated its foreign policy. But it is difficult to answer for Seoul, caught between Beijing, its largest trading partner, and Washington, its military ally.

Ceremony in the presence of the Chinese Ambassador to South Korea at Incheon International Airport, South Korea, September 16, 2022. AP - Song Kyung-Seok

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With our correspondent in Seoul, Célio Fioretti

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Those who bet on China's defeat will regret it. This is how Xing Haiming, China's ambassador to South Korea, said Thursday, criticizing the proximity between Seoul and Washington. A comment that did not fail to react the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs who summoned the Chinese diplomat.

The tone between the two countries had already risen in April after the South Korean president made comments about maintaining the status quo between China and Taiwan. If South Korea wants to be firm on Chinese comments, it is caught in a vice.

>> READ ALSO: United States and South Korea launch new joint military exercises in Pocheon

An uncomfortable position for Seoul

As Cho Tae-young, South Korea's security adviser, recalled the next day, Beijing is Seoul's largest trading partner with 23% of the country's exports. It's hard to get angry with China, which also plays an important role in the North Korean issue.

In addition, 2023 marks 70 years of the military alliance between the United States and South Korea. Forged in the Korean War, this alliance materialized on 1 October 1953 into a mutual defence treaty. A very uncomfortable position for Seoul in the standoff between Beijing and Washington.

>> READ ALSO: "The alliance between the United States and South Korea goes beyond the North Korean threat"

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