Between Ally and Partner: Korea-China Relations and the United States

201 Pages·2006·1.79 MB·English

by  Jae Ho Chung

Between Ally and Partner:
Korea-China Relations
and the United States
Jae Ho Chung
Columbia University Press
B etween Ally and Partner

Jae Ho Chung
B etween Ally and Partner
Korea-China Relations and the United States

Columbia University Press New York
Columbia University Press
Publishers Since 1893
New York Chichester, West Sussex
Copyright © 2007 Columbia University Press
All rights reserved
Publication of this book was supported through funds provided
by the Korea Foundation. Columbia University Press would like
to express its sincere thanks and gratitude.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Chong, Chae-ho, 1960–
Between ally and partner : Korea-China relations and the United States / Jae
Ho Chung.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0–231–13906–3 (cloth : alk. paper)—ISBN 0–231–51118–3 (e-book)
1. Korea (South)—Foreign relations—China. 2. China—Foreign relations—
Korea (South). 3. Korea (South)—Foreign relations—United States. 4. United
States—Foreign relations—Korea (South). I. Title.
DS910.2.C5C527 2006
327.5195051—dc22 200616022
Columbia University Press books are printed on permanent
and durable acid-free paper.
Printed in the United States of America
c 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
To Jerome B. Grieder and Michel C. Oksenberg (1938–2001), who were
key sources of inspiration and encouragement during my years at Brown
University and the University of Michigan

Contents
List of Tables ix
Preface xi
1. Th e Rise of Korea-China Relations and the United States 1
Th e “Rise” of China and Its Impact on Neighbors 2
From Confrontation to Cooperation: Th e Case of South Korea–
China Relations 4
Th e Evolution of Sino–South Korean Cooperation:
A Literature Review 6
Th e Focus of the Book 8
Th e Structure of the Volume 10
2. A Sketch of Sino-Korean Relations 12
A “Special” Relationship in Geopolitical Time 13
South Korea and China: A Contemporary Puzzle 16
3. Perspectives on the Origins of the South Korea–China
Rapprochement 19
Strategic Accommodation by Minimizing Systemic Constraints 20
Envisioning an Interdependent Trading State 21
Reform and Opening: Linking the Changes from Within 23
4. South Korea–China Relations Before 1988 29
Sino–South Korean Relations Before 1979 29
Th e Initiation Phase, 1979–1983 32
Th e Expansion Phase, 1984–1987 34
Patterns of Sino–South Korean Trade, 1979–1987 35
South Korea’s Investment in China, 1984–1987 39
Th e Political Limits of Sino–South Korean Relations 41
viii Contents
5. Th e Political Economy of Rapprochement, 1988–1992 43
Th e Takeoff Phase, 1988–1990 43
Th e Normalization Phase, 1991–1992 45
Sino–South Korean Trade, 1988–1992 47
South Korean Investment in China, 1988–1992 49
Th e Infrastructure of South Korea–China Bilateralism 51
Th e External Constraints on Sino–South Korean Bilateralism 53
6. Th e Politics of Normalization: Actors, Processes, and Issues 56
Top Leaders and Informal Channels 56
Factors of Bureaucratic Politics 62
Operation East Sea: Facts and Lessons 69
7. Beyond Normalization: South Korea and China in the Post–
Cold War Era 75
Post–Cold War Northeast Asia in Flux 75
Postnormalization Sino–South Korean Relations: Compatibility,
Competition, and Cooperation 78
Beyond Economics: Strategic Compatibility? 84
Th e South Korean Variable: Divided Allegiance? 90
8. Th e Rise of China and the U.S.–South Korean Alliance
Under Strain 92
China’s Rise Over South Korea 93
South Korea’s Views of China and the United States 96
Perceptual Ambivalence Toward China 100
Th e U.S.–South Korea Alliance Under Strain: Room for Wedging? 102
9. Between Dragon and Eagle: Korea at the Crossroads 108
Th e Future of China: Beyond Simple Dichotomy 109
Th e Menu of Choices and Rational Constraints 112
Parameters of South Korea’s Choice: Where the United States and
China Converge 116
Walking the Tightrope: Th e Choice of Not Making Choices 119
Notes 123
Index 181
List of Tables
4.1 South Korea’s Trade with China, 1979–1987 36
4.2 South Korea’s Coal Imports from China 38
5.1 Top Products in South Korea–China Bilateral Trade, 1988–1992 48
5.2 South Korea’s Investment in China, 1985–1992 50
6.1. Number of South Korean Investment Projects per Chinese
Province 66
7.1 South Korea–China Trade Aft er Normalization 79
7.2 South Korea’s Ten Top Export Items, 1992 and 2001 80
7.3 Percentage of Exports to the China Market 81
7.4 South Korea’s Investment in China, 1991–2004 82
7.5 Visitor Exchanges Between South Korea and China 84
8.1 South Korea’s Trade Dependency on China 94
8.2 South Koreans’ Attitude Toward China by Age Group, 1989/1990 96
8.3 South Koreans’ Attitude Toward the United States by Age Group,
1989/1990 96
8.4 South Koreans’ Choice for a National Cooperative Partner for the
Twenty-fi rst Century, by Age Group, 1993 97
8.5 South Koreans’ Guesses as to Which Country Would Be Th eir Closest
Partner in the Year 2006, by Age Group, 1996 97
8.6 South Koreans’ Opinions as to Which Country Is More Important,
2004 97
8.7 South Koreans’ Opinions on How to Manage Future Diplomatic
Relations with Major World Powers, 1997 98
8.8 South Korean Popular Preference for China or the United States, 1996–
2005 99
8.9 South Koreans’ Attitude Toward the U.S. Forces in Korea 104
8.10 Perceptions of South Korea in the United States, Japan, and China,
2000 106
9.1 American and Chinese Elites’ Preferences for South Korea’s Foreign-
Policy Choices 118