As Trump 2.0 looms, South Korea and China seek stability amid global turbulence

The growing uncertainties surrounding Donald Trump’s imminent return to the White House and the war in Ukraine are prompting South Korea and China to seek closer ties and work towards regional stability, analysts said.

For Seoul, strengthening relations with Beijing could provide it with more diplomatic leverage, especially as its ties with a new Trump administration would likely entail significantly higher “transactional costs”.

“South Korea appears to be subtly shifting its tone toward greater warmth in its relations with China after Trump’s election victory, although efforts to improve ties with Beijing have been ongoing for years,” Park Won-gon, a political-science professor at Ewha Womans University, told This Week in Asia.

“South Korea and China, along with other nations, are preparing for interactions with Trump. They aim to secure as many diplomatic options as possible to navigate the uncertainties of his administration.”

Analysts say South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol appears to be moderating his administration’s “value-based” diplomatic approach – which emphasises universal values such as individual freedom, human rights, and the rule of law – by seeking a more balanced relationship with Washington and Beijing.

In an interview with Brazil’s Folha de S. Paulo newspaper published on Monday, Yoon declined to take sides regarding the US-China rivalry, underscoring what analysts say is the importance of maintaining communication links with both powers to contribute to regional stability.