Chinese President Xi Jinping is unlikely to attend the North Korean Workers’ Party’s 80th anniversary military parade scheduled for next month on the 10th, according to reports. This is because there is no precedent for China’s top leader attending such events, and considerations of relations with South Korea and the United States are influencing the decision.
Singapore’s Chinese daily, the Lianhe Zaobao, reported on the 28th that during a meeting with Wang Yi, head of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission of the Chinese Communist Party (and also the Foreign Minister), North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui’s visit was likely aimed at inviting high-ranking Chinese officials to the Workers’ Party foundation parade.
Professor Li Mingjiang from the Singapore Nanyang Technological University’s School of International Studies told the Lianhe Zaobao that it is unlikely for President Xi to visit Pyongyang for the parade, as it is not a Chinese tradition for top leaders to attend North Korean parades, and it involves considerations of bilateral relations with the U.S. and South Korea.
Moreover, Professor Li noted that China had already shown diplomatic courtesy by inviting North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to Beijing to attend the 80th anniversary parade of the Chinese victory in the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression last month. Therefore, there is no need for China to show further diplomatic courtesy by sending top leaders to North Korea. However, he mentioned that there is a possibility for China to send higher-ranking officials compared to the past.
In previous cases, Liu Yunshan, the fifth-ranking member of the Chinese Politburo Standing Committee, attended the 70th anniversary parade, and Zhou Yongkang, then ninth-ranking, led a delegation to the 65th anniversary event.
Following President Xi, the second to sixth in China’s power hierarchy include Premier Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, head of the National People’s Congress, Wang Huning, president of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, Cai Qi, head of the Central Secretariat, and Ding Xuexiang, vice-premier.
Honorary Professor Ding Shufan from the Taiwan Political University’s Institute of East Asian Studies speculated that if President Xi were to visit North Korea, it might occur after the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju, South Korea, at the end of October rather than the Workers’ Party parade. This timing would avoid a scenario where the leaders of China and Russia stand alongside Kim Jong Un at the parade and would aid in sharing new information or aligning positions between China and North Korea.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Choe arrived in Beijing on the 27th at Wang’s invitation for a four-day stay until the 30th. Previously, she accompanied Kim Jong Un during his visit to Beijing from the 1st to the 5th when he attended China’s 80th victory anniversary parade and met with President Xi.
Choe’s visit to Beijing, approximately three weeks later, marks her first solo visit since she became Foreign Minister in June 2022, and her first face-to-face meeting with China’s top diplomat.
[Photo Source: Yonhap News]
■ Tip-off Inquiries
▷ Phone: 02-781-1234, 4444
▷ Email: [email protected]
▷ KakaoTalk: Search ‘KBS News’, add the channel
▷ Subscribe to KBS News on Naver and YouTube!