한·중 수교 18주년 평가와 ‘전략적 협력동반자 관계’ 분석

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the relationship between China and South Korea in political, economic, military, and security aspects over the past 18 years andanalyse the main factors of change in the relationship and in developmental directions.On August 24th, 1992, South Korea and China decided to liquidate the ideological relations of the cold war period for the development of normal diplomaticrelations and for their practical interests in politics. As new diplomatic relations havedeveloped in the northeast, the relations between South Korea and China havegradually changed into a relationship of strategic cooperative partnership from acooperative relationship. Second, in economic aspects, South Korea has kept economic growth up through economic trade with China for 18 years and the economic influence of the Unites States and Japan as friendly nations has declined slowly. Third, in the military and security areas, South Korea’s cease-fire system has been a barrier to the development of the two nations and North Korean nuclear ability has become an important issue to consider in the relationship between North Korea and China, and between South Korea and North Korea. Fourth, in social and cultural aspects, exchanges and cooperative relations between the two countries have increased in personal and material aspects and exchange and cooperative relations contain common cultural values as part of a Confucian-Sinosphere and in historical and environmental factors. As factors in the relationships, changes in international political conditions, the political influence of each nation, the divided state of the Korean peninsula, and international exchanges between South Korea and China are categorized into main factors. South Korea and China should focus on practical ideas of political cooperation rather than the ideological ideas in the 21st-century Northeast Asian Cooperation Initiative and our economic cooperation should seek coexistence and coprosperity based on our real economic conditions. In respect to cooperative relations in the military and security areas, the divided system and North Korea’s nuclear issues should be reconsidered as common problems and our practical ability to change into a peaceful system and specific programs should be developed for them. Our future social and cultural relations should respect the cultures of each nation and be active in the establishment of a Northeast Community based on bonds of sympathy as a Confucian-Sinosphere.