China Praises South Korea for Reaffirming One-China Stance
China has welcomed South Korea’s public and complete reaffirmation of the Taiwan-related language contained in the 1992 China-ROK Joint Communiqué, with Beijing praising the move as a positive signal for bilateral relations. The exchange, which took place during a director-level consultation in Seoul on June 17, underscores the enduring centrality of the One-China principle in China-ROK diplomacy.
The Reaffirmation
On June 18, Nam Jin (남진), Director-General for Northeast Asian and Central Asian Affairs at South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, briefed reporters and publicly reiterated the exact language from the 1992 joint communiqué that established diplomatic relations between the two countries. The communiqué states that “the Government of the Republic of Korea recognizes the Government of the People’s Republic of China as the sole legal government of China, and respects China’s position that there is only one China and Taiwan is part of China,” according to Xinhua News.
“Successive South Korean governments have never changed this position,” Nam Jin told reporters, as reported by Xinhua.
The reaffirmation came during a director-level consultation in Seoul between Nam Jin and Liu Jinsong, Director-General of the Department of Asian Affairs at China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The meeting was the first such consultation since Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to North Korea on June 8-9.
China’s Response
The Chinese Foreign Ministry issued a statement at midnight on June 19 (Beijing time) positively evaluating the remarks. A ministry spokesperson said that “China views positively the remarks by Director-General for Northeast Asian and Central Asian Affairs at the ROK’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who reiterated in its entirety and publicly to the press the language on Taiwan in the China-ROK joint communiqué,” as recorded in the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s official statement.
The spokesperson added: “We hope and believe that the ROK will stay true to the shared will that led to the establishment of diplomatic ties, honor the political commitments, and abide by the one-China principle to uphold the political foundation of China-ROK relations.”
Beijing also recalled that South Korean President Lee Jae-myung had already expressed the same position during his January 2026 state visit to China, when he stated that the ROK respects China’s core interests and adheres to the One-China principle.
Broader Context: Taiwan and the Korean Peninsula
The reaffirmation comes amid heightened tensions around Taiwan, with China increasingly assertive on the One-China principle in international forums. Recent months have seen multiple Taiwan-related diplomatic incidents involving South Korea, including China lodging representations with Seoul in June over a cross-party delegation of South Korean lawmakers visiting Taiwan, as reported by Global Times.
Notably, while China praised South Korea’s stance on Taiwan, it remained silent on Korean Peninsula issues discussed during the same consultation. According to SBS News, South Korea urged China to play a “constructive role” in ensuring peace, stability, and denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula — particularly in light of Xi Jinping’s recent summit with Kim Jong-un in Pyongyang, where the joint statement notably omitted any mention of denuclearization.
The Chinese side reportedly did not show any distinct reaction to South Korea’s concerns, repeating its existing stance that “China’s policy on the Korean Peninsula maintains continuity and stability,” SBS News reported.
Analysis: Selective Emphasis
Analysts at Aju Press highlighted the asymmetry in China’s response: Beijing praised Seoul on Taiwan but remained silent on North Korean denuclearization. This selective emphasis may indicate China’s prioritization of its own core interests — Taiwan — over regional security concerns regarding North Korea’s nuclear program.
The South Korean government has reportedly conveyed concerns to Beijing about the spread of “nuclear acquiescence” narratives following Xi’s visit to North Korea, though it officially maintains that China is not acquiescing to North Korea’s nuclear status.
What’s Next
Both sides confirmed their commitment to maintaining positive momentum in high-level exchanges, particularly ahead of the APEC summit scheduled for November 2026 in Shenzhen. The consultation also covered plans for a visit by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to South Korea, though specific schedules were not finalized. Other agenda items included China’s leasing of pandas to South Korea and the preservation of Korean independence movement historical sites in China.
The reaffirmation reinforces the One-China principle at a time when Taiwan is increasingly a flashpoint in international relations, and positions South Korea’s stance in contrast to Japan’s more ambiguous position under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. As both nations navigate the complex geopolitical landscape of Northeast Asia, the strength of the China-ROK diplomatic framework will continue to be tested by competing regional pressures.