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The front page of the Mar. 13 issue of the People’s Daily displays coverage of the meeting between South Korean special envoy Chung Eui-yong and Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Mar. 12.
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State-run news outlets devote major coverage to visit of South Korean special envoy Chung Eui-yong
Chinese state-run news outlets assigned major coverage to Blue House National Security Office director Chung Eui-yong’s meetings with President Xi Jinping and other members of the Chinese leadership. Attention is also turning to the possibility of Beijing playing a positive future role in the Korean Peninsula political situation, where Seoul, Pyongyang, and Washington are currently taking the lead.
The People’s Daily, an official newspaper of the Chinese Communist Party, printed a front-page piece on Mar. 13 on Chung and Xi’s meeting the day before, with detailed remarks from both sides. The state-run China Daily addressed the issue in a front-page lead article and editorial, which said that China was “praised by Mr. Chung for its active efforts and dedication” and that Beijing had “demanded that Pyongyang and Washington speak directly about these issues [denuclearization and the adoption of a peace regime].” The Global Times also printed a front-page report under the title “South Korean Special Envoy Grateful for China’s Guiding Role.”
The major attention Chung’s visit received from the Chinese press was seen as tied to voices of concern about China’s role diminishing with South Korea playing a mediating role in organizing a North Korea-US summit. With Chung lauding China’s contribution and stressing its future role, the media can now protest that fears of China being “left out” have been unwarranted.
Analysts are also arguing for Beijing to use the opportunity to establish an active role and prepare for the next step by resuming trade with North Korea. In an interview with Caixin, former Chinese Communist Party International Liaison Department deputy minister Yu Hongjun said China should be happy in observing the current situation.
“As it watches the progress in the Korean Peninsula political situation, China should also come up with an appropriate response,” he suggested. Yu called for taking preventive action against unexpected mishaps on one hand, while immediately restoring trade with North Korea once the situation changes and sanctions are relaxed.
Liaoning Academy of Social Sciences researcher Lu Chao told the Global Times that China “needs to participate if the inter-Korean and North Korea-US summits are concluded smoothly and talks toward a peace regime agreement become necessary.”
“China is a signatory to the armistice agreement, after all,” Lu stressed.
By Kim Oi-hyun, Beijing correspondent
Please direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]
