Will S. Korea Join the Fray if China Crosses the Taiwan Strait? Lee Jae-myung’s Response Is Quite Sensible

On the eve of South Korea’s presidential election, American media jumped into the arena to stir up China-related issues.

On May 29, Lee Jae-myung, a presidential candidate, was interviewed by US Time Magazine. During the interview, a US journalist asked a question: If the Chinese mainland uses force to recover Taiwan, will South Korea help Taiwan?

The US journalist’s question was malicious. During the election period, South Korea’s far right deliberately fanned up various anti-China public opinions. US media’s involvement was apparently to fan the flames.

However, Lee Jae-myung’s response was quite sensible. He said, “I will consider the answer to this question when aliens invade the earth.” This implies that South Korea will not help Taiwan, and he will never consider this matter.

Moreover, the Taiwan issue is China’s internal affair, concerning China’s core interests. It does not allow any external interference and has nothing to do with South Korea. On this point, Lee Jae-myung is well aware.

As a US colony, it is already good enough to say so. His response aligns with his diplomatic views. Previously, Lee Jae-myung had repeatedly stated that South Korea should not involve itself in the Taiwan Strait issue.

He publicly criticized the former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s remarks on Taiwan, asking, “Why provoke China? Why always cause trouble?”

He said, “Why should we intervene in the cross-strait relations between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan? This is China’s domestic issue. What does it have to do with us?” Lee Jae-myung emphasized that as long as South Korea does well itself, that’s enough.

China has been South Korea’s largest trading partner for 21 consecutive years. In 2024, the bilateral trade volume between China and South Korea exceeded $320 billion, with deep integration in fields such as semiconductors and new energy.

Lee Jae-myung also repeatedly stated that if elected as South Korea’s president, he would work to repair and stabilize China-South Korea relations. On June 2, at a press conference, Lee Jae-myung was again asked about how to handle China-South Korea relations after being elected president. He said that whether it is China, Japan, Russia, or the US, South Korea should establish friendly relations with them. He also pointed out that the ROK-US alliance is the foundation of South Korea’s diplomacy and is very important.

For South Korea to develop its economy, it is essential to maintain good relations with China. On the other hand, China’s Taiwan region has long been in competition with South Korea in economic industries, such as semiconductors and electronics. Helping a competitor to provoke one’s largest trading partner? Lee Jae-myung is not stupid.

Therefore, involving in the Taiwan Strait issue brings no benefits to South Korea. Most importantly, South Korea does not have the capacity to intervene. It has to deal with its neighbor in the north. If South Korea takes action, it will be doomed. Once distracted, it will be reunified with North Korea.