On June 4, South Korea witnessed a significant political turning point as Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party of Korea was elected as the country’s 21st president. Sworn into office just hours after his electoral victory, Lee inherits a nation fatigued by political instability following the impeachment of former president Yoon Suk-yeol. His rapid inauguration reflected both a procedural necessity and the urgency of restoring public trust in governance, economic stability, and diplomatic balance. The message from Chinese President Xi Jinping, delivered on the same day, was not merely a congratulatory formality-it was a pointed gesture signaling Beijing’s interest in recalibrating its relationship with Seoul under new leadership.

President Xi’s message emphasized China’s hope for a renewed spirit of cooperation and mutual respect in China-South Korea relations. He stressed China’s readiness to work with South Korea to uphold the principles that have guided bilateral ties since their establishment over three decades ago-principles rooted in good-neighborliness, mutual benefit, and win-win cooperation. Amid the complexities of the current international environment, this outreach underscores China’s desire to stabilize a relationship that had deteriorated under Yoon’s administration.

The Yoon presidency marked a turbulent phase in South Korea’s foreign policy. His approach, often described as “values-based diplomacy,” prioritized alignment with the United States, Japan, and other Western allies, frequently at the expense of traditional Asian diplomatic norms of balance and regional harmony. In pushing South Korea to choose sides in the escalating US-China rivalry, Yoon marginalized one of Seoul’s most crucial economic and strategic partners-China. This one-sided strategy failed to deliver the promised gains of a “global pivotal state” and instead left South Korea more........

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