Republic of China–South Korea relations

Republic of China–South Korea relations date back to 4 January 1949, four months after the formal establishment of the South Korean government, when the Republic of China set up an embassy in the Seoul district of Myeongdong. During the Korean War of 1950-1953, the People's Republic of China sided with North Korea and provided military support, while the Republic of China government sided with South Korea, remaining one of its strongest allies throughout the Cold War.

On 23 August 1992, however, President of South Korea Roh Tae-woo pursued Nordopolitik (Northern policy) Policy (as the term derived in relation to Realpolitik) to neighboring Communist governments in Northeast Asian region to geo-politically isolate North Korea and reduce military tension in the Korean Peninsula that President Roh decided to recognize People's Republic of China instead of the Republic of China government (the ROC government by then only in control of the island of Taiwan and a few minor outlying islands of China), the two governments severed diplomatic relations with South Korea made in advance of its announcement of formal recognition of the People's Republic of China based in Beijing while South Korean government promptly confiscated all diplomatic properties (ROC Embassy in South Korea before de-recognition) of the Republic of China government in the South Korean district of Myeongdong without prior notice and transfer them directly under the ownership of People's Republic of China as formal diplomatic recognition started to effect with the People's Republic of China. On 17th September 1991, South Korea (together with North Korea at the same date) was no longer objected by People's Republic of China (People's Republic of China is a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council since October 1971 following the expulsion of Republic of China in United Nation General Assembly Resolution 2758) to become a member of the United Nation. South Korea was the last Asian country that had official diplomatic relations with the Republic of China. Since the severance, relations between the two governments have been "in a rut".^[1] The succeeding Sunshine Policy of the South Korean government toward North Korea inherits the Nordopolitik Policy.

After Seoul's recognition of the PRC government in Beijing, direct commercial flights between Seoul and Taipei were terminated. For twelve years, only charter flights were operated between the two cities. The lack of scheduled flights caused tourist numbers to drop from 420,000 in 1992 to a low of 200,000 the following year, recovering only partially to 360,000 by 2003. Finally, on 1 September 2004, representatives of South Korea's unofficial mission in Taipei and the RoC's unofficial mission in Seoul signed an aviation agreement that allowed aircraft of each side to enter the airspace of the other. This not only permitted the resumption of direct scheduled flights, but also allowed flights from South Korea to Southeast Asia to fly over the island of Taiwan instead of detouring over mainland China or the Philippines. Analysts at the time estimated this would save South Korean airline companies ₩33 billion (US$29 million at then-current exchange rates) in fuel costs and other fees.^[2] On trading and regional fronts, South Korean government acted as the interlocutor and supported Taipei's admission in APEC in 1991 as a Chinese economy by altering the political acronym of Member States to Member Economies in the APEC to make APEC formally a Trans-Pacific Economic Forum and personnel of Taipei's Ministry of Foreign Affairs are forbidden to participate in the APEC but Minister of Economic Affairs of the Republic of China, a special envoy appointed by the President of the Republic of China and business representatives from Taipei that publicly, and in the less extent, officially, can attend annual APEC Meetings by the name of Chinese Taipei (Taipei can also host non-ministerial APEC consortium/workshops on the Republic of China soil to address and share the success on economics-only and business-related issues with other Member Economies that Taipei has the specific strengths, such as the areas of Technology and Small and Medium Enterprise) and this framework for Chinese Taipei is supported by the United States and accepted by People's Republic of China. APEC Business Travel Card (ATBC) scheme applies to business travelers to/from Chinese Taipei.

Former South Korean president Kim Young-sam visited Taipei for five days in July 2001. During this visit, he met with then-President of the Republic of China Chen Shui-bian at a lunch banquet, but the two were unable to come to an agreement over the wording of a joint written statement urging the resumption of direct air travel. Kim informed the embassy of the People's Republic of China in advance of his visit.^[3] In October 2004, following the aviation agreement, Kim came to Taiwan once more at Chen's invitation. He delivered a speech at National Chengchi University and toured port facilities in Kaohsiung, the sister city of South Korea's Busan.^[4]

References

5. Marc Lanteigne 2005, China and international institutions: alternate paths to global power, p.64-67, Routledge, Oxon

6. http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/t-business/2008/11/16/183406/Pres.-Ma%3A.htm

7. http://irchina.org/en/xueren/china/view.asp?id=828

8. http://www.npf.org.tw/post/3/9993 (in Chinese)

9. http://old.npf.org.tw/PUBLICATION/TE/090/TE-R-090-027.htm (in Chinese)