The Chinese Foreign Ministry has positively assessed South Korea's reaffirmation of the 'One China' principle but remained silent on issues concerning the Korean Peninsula.
In a statement released on June 19, the ministry's spokesperson noted that the South Korean director responsible for foreign affairs publicly reaffirmed the Taiwan-related mentions in the joint diplomatic statement between China and South Korea. "China views this positively," the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson added, "We hope that South Korea will firmly uphold the original intentions of diplomatic relations, adhere to political commitments, and actively implement the 'One China' principle to safeguard the political foundation of China-South Korea relations."
Earlier, the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced that Liu Jin Song, the Director General of the Department of Asian Affairs, held regular working consultations with Nam Jin, the Director of the Northeast and Central Asia Department, on June 17.
The ministry stated, "Both sides exchanged views on China-South Korea relations and common interests, agreeing to actively implement important agreements reached during mutual visits by the leaders of both countries and to work towards stable and long-term development of the strategic cooperative partnership between the two nations."
The ministry also emphasized that Nam reaffirmed South Korea's firm stance on the 'One China' principle as promised in the joint diplomatic statement, stressing that this position remains unchanged.
Nam also explained to South Korean reporters that when the Taiwan issue was raised by the Chinese side, the South Korean government reaffirmed its respect for the 'One China' principle as outlined in the joint diplomatic statement, indicating that this stance has not changed.
The consultations also included strategic communication regarding the Korean Peninsula. Nam noted that this meeting, the first since Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to North Korea on June 8-9, involved discussions on the Korean Peninsula, with South Korea urging China to play a constructive role in ensuring peace, stability, and denuclearization.
However, the Chinese Foreign Ministry's statement did not mention the Korean Peninsula issue, focusing instead on the sensitive Taiwan matter.
The absence of public discussion on the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula during the June 8 summit between North Korea and China has led to speculation that China may be tacitly accepting North Korea's nuclear capabilities.
The South Korean government has reportedly conveyed concerns to China that the spread of the 'tacit acceptance of North Korea's nuclear program' narrative does not contribute to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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