中國의 東北工程 再論

Abstract

Rediscuss China's "Northeast Project" Kang, Jun-young China's "Northeast Project," on the other hand, has not only put their bilateral ties in jeopardy, but has made many Koreans sober about the country they believe to be the most important to their future.In light of the expected objections from both North and South Korea as well as from the world community, what prompted China to engineer the historical distortions? First, it stands to reason that the steady power shift in Northeast Asia including China's rise, North Korea's nuclear crisis, readjustments in the US-ROK alliance, and Japan's elevated status in US's East Asia strategy must have a place in it. Second, North Korea's future and the two-million strong ethnic Koreans in the northeastern provinces must remain a serious concern for China's political leaders and strategists. Third, a unified Korea's possible claim over the Gando region well into the future can be nipped in the bud should any ancient histories of China's current northeastern region be incorporated as part of China's own proud and rich history.As long as China holds fast to its ongoing reform drive, continued stability on the Korean Peninsula is a key to its economic and other interests so that it would try to prevent the worsening of ties with Seoul with historical issues. In order to do this domestic political stability and external coalition with others including a strong alliance with the US is a must. In the mid- to longer term, both South Korea and China would need to maintain a more balanced relationship based on hard-nosed national interests and mutual benefits. This is the lesson we need to learn from China's creeping historical distortions in "Northeast Project."