South Korean President Lee Jae-myung said on Wednesday that Seoul would not take sides in the intensifying diplomatic crisis between China and Japan over Taiwan, emphasizing that the best path forward is mutual “coexistence, respect, and cooperation.”
Speaking at a press conference in Seoul, Lee described the region as “highly dangerous in terms of military security” and warned that choosing sides would only heighten tensions.
“Taking sides escalates conflict—whether in personal relationships or international affairs,” he said. “The ideal approach is to coexist, respect one another, and cooperate as much as possible.”
Lee suggested South Korea could play a mediating role where possible, reflecting his administration’s pragmatic diplomacy since taking office in June 2025 following the impeachment and removal of predecessor Yoon Suk Yeol.
The remarks come amid a sharp escalation in Sino-Japanese ties triggered by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s November statements in parliament, where she described a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan—including a blockade—as a “survival-threatening situation” for Japan, implying Tokyo could intervene militarily.
Beijing denounced the comments as a grave interference in its internal affairs, with China viewing Taiwan as a renegade province that must eventually reunify with the mainland, by force if necessary.
The backlash has included travel warnings for Chinese citizens visiting Japan, cancellations of Japanese cultural events in China (including a prominent singer’s concert in Shanghai), and heightened patrols near disputed territories, such as the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands.
President Lee’s neutral stance aligns with his efforts to reset relations with China after a chill under Yoon, who prioritized closer alignment with the United States and Japan.
At last month’s APEC summit in Gyeongju—hosted by South Korea—Lee held bilateral talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, marking a symbolic thaw.
In a lighthearted moment during a gift exchange, Xi presented Lee with two Xiaomi smartphones. When Lee quipped, “Is the communication line secure?” Xi replied with a smile, pointing at the devices: “You should check if there is a backdoor.”
The exchange, referring to longstanding Western concerns over potential surveillance in Chinese tech, drew laughter and highlighted the leaders’ rapport.
Lee later described the talks as “interesting” and praised Xi’s unexpected sense of humor, expressing hope for an early visit to China.
Another Round Of China-Japan Clash
On Tuesday, Japanese and Chinese coast guard vessels were involved in a new confrontation near the disputed Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea, according to statements from both sides.
Japan’s coast guard reported that two Chinese patrol ships entered Japanese territorial waters around the Senkaku Islands early Tuesday morning and departed several hours later.
The Japanese-administered islands, called Diaoyu in China, have long been a source of tension between Tokyo and Beijing. When the Chinese vessels approached a Japanese fishing boat, a Japanese coast guard ship intervened and demanded they exit the area, the Japanese statement said.
“The activities of Chinese coast guard vessels navigating within Japan’s territorial waters around the Senkaku Islands while asserting their own claims fundamentally violate international law,” it said.
The statement noted that the two Chinese ships, along with others, remained in the vicinity. China Coast Guard spokesman Liu Dejun stated that a Japanese fishing vessel had “illegally entered China’s territorial waters”.
“China Coast Guard vessels took necessary control measures and made warnings to drive it away,” Liu said on the China Coast Guard’s official WeChat account.
“The China Coast Guard will continue to conduct rights protection and law enforcement activities in the waters around the Diaoyu Islands, resolutely safeguarding national territorial sovereignty and maritime rights,” he added.
The incident marks the second such encounter in recent weeks, following a similar one on November 16—about a week after comments by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi—according to Kyodo News.
While China has reportedly reinstated a ban on Japanese seafood imports, it has refrained from broader economic retaliation, such as restrictions on rare earth metal exports.
- With Inputs from Agence France-Presse
- Edited by ET Online Desk
