By Sejin Oh
Summary
To survive between the two powerful states, South Korea should employ the Tightrope diplomacy, which comes from the traditional Korean activity of balancing on a line.
“Who do you like more, Mom or Dad?” As a child, my parents used to ask me this question, a dilemma for all children. It may appear to be a simple question, but it is a question that could create chaos. As I grew older, I realized that the best way to satisfy both my mother and father is to say “both.” However, it became a real problem when they urged me to pick a side. Now, imagine the two most powerful bullies in your class asks a kid named South Korea the same question. “Pick a side. Who do you like more, the United States of America or People's Republic of China?” Whose side should South Korea be on? Instead of standing on one side of the US-China rivalry, South Korea should use the Tightrope diplomacy to balance the relationship with the two superpowers, considering the economy and security.
As I grew older, I realized that the best way to satisfy both my mother and father is to say “both.”
After World War II, the United States and the Soviet Union rose to become the two leading superpowers. Realists, who believe the international system is an anarchy where all states seek power for survival, saw the Cold War as the competition between the United States and the Soviet Union to become the only dominant state. Indeed, following the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, the United States became the world's sole hegemonic power. For almost 20 years, the American hegemony was stable, until China became the world's second-largest economic power in 2010. The US started to check China, a new challenger to the hegemony.
In 2018, President Trump declared a trade war with China, and the relationship between the two superpowers worsened. The two countries started to increase their use of hard powers— the ability to influence other political actors through coercion. The unilateral actions by the US of closing the Chinese Houston Consulate and banning two major Chinese apps, Wechat and Tik Tok in America, and China's passing of the Hong Kong security law exacerbated their relationship.
With the sudden rise of China as a global power, South Korea, an old ally of the US, was unexpectedly asked with the Mom-or Dad dilemma. Although South Korea has strong economic and military power as the 10th largest economy on this planet, the two types of powers are dependent on both the US and China. In other words, South Korea has weak sovereignty—the power over a state’s own territory and citizens— over military and economic power. China is Korea’s largest economic trade partner in terms of both imports and exports. On the other hand, South Korea has operational control of its military under armistice conditions, but it is agreed that the United States take over the Korean military in wartime. Considering the fact that South Korea is still in war with North Korea, this indicates that the South Korean government does not have full authority over their military power. Therefore, South Korea should not choose only one side in the US-China rivalry and must find a way to balance their position.
With the sudden rise of China as a global power, South Korea, an old ally of the US, was unexpectedly asked with the Mom-or Dad dilemma.
To survive between the two powerful states, South Korea should employ the Tightrope diplomacy, which comes from the traditional Korean activity of balancing on a line. The Tightrope diplomacy is used to maintain neutrality between two opposing states and benefit from both countries. Though some might say it is a dishonest or opportunistic strategy, it would be appropriate for realists, as all states are motivated by power and national interest.
Though some might say it is a dishonest or opportunistic strategy, it would be appropriate for realists, as all states are motivated by power and national interest.
By choosing neither side, the South Korea should seek to negotiate with both the US and China and their national interests—surviving on the edge of the Korean Peninsula, and between China and the US. However, the Tightrope diplomacy is also a strategy that puts Korea at a huge risk of both countries being hostile towards Korea, so further research on determining a definite way of carrying out the strategy is needed.
Comments