President Park Geun-hye

By Kim Tae-gyu

Can President Park Geun-hye stick to what is seen as her version of "equidistant diplomacy" between China and the United States?

So far, Seoul appears to be making a knee-jerk reaction to close ranks with Washington in the face of China's inclusion of Ieodo in its Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ).

Beijing's move is seen as a response to the U.S. policy of pivoting to Asia, the latest fight for hegemony in the region.

This struggle is nothing new to the point that Washington has chosen Japan as its deputy to contain China.

A big challenge for Park is whether she will repeat history.

But new realities can push her to seek out other possibilities.

First, China is Korea's biggest trading partner, whose influence can be felt by Samsung to Hyundai. Plus, she has been closer than any of her predecessors to the Chinese leadership — now represented by President Xi Jinping.

Second, Park can ill afford to blindly follow Washington's lead, considering the growing clout of Japan. Her support base may be eroded.

Experts are also split into two opposing camps with regard to how Park should grapple with the diplomatic upheaval.

"President Park came up with a series of actions, which would have angered the U.S. as demonstrated by the different levels of special envoys and ambassadors to the U.S. and China," said Prof. Son Tae-gyu at Dankook University.

"Although China has become our top trade partner, the U.S. is far more significant in our security and politics. In that sense, I think that our government is required to shift its diplomatic focus more to the U.S."

After winning the presidential election late last year, Park sent Kim Moo-sung, who has great influence inside the ruling Saenuri Party, as a special envoy to China while appointing her long-time confident Kwon Young-se as the ambassador to the country.

By contrast, she sent then Saenuri floor leader Lee Hahn-koo as a special envoy to the U.S. while naming former Vice Foreign Minister Ahn Ho-young as the new U.S. ambassador.

Kim and Kwon, who Park selected for China, are widely regarded as far more powerful than Lee and Ahn.

Last year, Korea's trade volume with China amounted to some $215 billion, which was more than double that with the U.S. at about $102 billion.

By contrast, Prof. Shin Yul at Myongji University said that Seoul should not change its focus in diplomacy.

"As far as China's recently-revealed ADIZ scheme is concerned, its target is not us, but Japan and the U.S. The differences between Seoul and Beijing can be easily ironed out," Shin said.

"Accordingly, we do not have to make any hasty moves. What we have to do now is to keep our original stances toward China, Japan and the U.S."

Last year, Korea's trade volume with China amounted to some $215 billion, which was more than double that with the U.S. at about $102 billion.

By contrast, Prof. Shin Yul at Myongji University said that Seoul should not change its focus in diplomacy.

"As far as China's recently-revealed ADIZ scheme is concerned, its target is not us, but Japan and the U.S. The differences between Seoul and Beijing can be easily ironed out," Shin said.

"Accordingly, we do not have to make any hasty moves. What we have to do now is to keep our original stances toward China, Japan and the U.S."