Beijing urges Seoul to pursue 'strategic autonomy' to improve bilateral ties

ㅁㄴㅇㄹㅇㄹ — South Korea's special envoys attend a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and other officials in Beijing, China on Aug. 24, 2025. Courtesy of South Korea's Foreign Ministry

SEOUL, August 25 (AJP) - South Korea needs "strategic autonomy" to achieve "steady, sustained progress" in its relations with Beijing, a state-run Chinese newspaper said Monday.

In an op-ed by Global Times, a sister newspaper of the official People's Daily, the English-language daily said, "Only with strategical autonomy could South Korea earn the genuine respect of the international community, including China, and be able to navigate a complex, changing international landscape while playing a more active and constructive role."

It pointed out that bilateral relations between the two countries "had reached a low point not seen since the establishment of diplomatic ties," blaming Seoul's "misperceptions" of Beijing under the previous administration for a "severe erosion of political mutual trust" between the two countries.

But it also expressed optimism that the Lee administration could bring a "new opportunity for improvement and development," describing the two countries as "inseparable neighbors."

The op-ed came as South Korean special envoys, led by former National Assembly speaker Park Byeong-seug, visited Beijing over the weekend, coinciding with the 33rd anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

They began their four-day trip by meeting Beijing's Foreign Ministry chief Wang Yi and delivering Lee's letter to President Xi Jinping, inviting him to the upcoming APEC summit, which is scheduled to be held in the historic southern city of Gyeongju this fall.

Im Yoon-seo lyseo0330@ajupress.com