Challenges remain for Seoul-Beijing relations

During a series of meetings with Chinese leaders, including President Xi Jinping, President Moon received reassurance from the Chinese government that it will resume economic and trade cooperation that has been suspended since South Korea pressed ahead with the much-controversial installation of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) battery. 
But challenges loom over South Korea’s future dealings with China, as Beijing appeared to argue that the agreement was only “condition-based” and still wants the eventual removal of THAAD, pressuring Moon to choose between economic ties with China and a military alliance with the US. 
“Although we have yet to resolve the THAAD issue completely, we expect there will be a dramatic decrease in the frequency and intensity of China’s mentioning of THAAD,” said a senior official from South Korea’s presidential office Cheong Wa Dae yesterday, a day after Moon returned from his four-day visit to China. 
The official, who told reporters on condition of anonymity, said Moon and Xi have managed to remove “hard feelings” over THAAD dispute and overcome major hurdles in economic and security issues. 
Including his meeting with Xi on Thursday, other high-level talks were held where Moon delivered his commitment to restoring ties following the THAAD dispute. Moon met with Prime Minister Li Keqiang and Zhang Dejiang, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People‘s Congress on Friday. 
Moon has reiterated there was “complete agreement” between him and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping to open up a “new chapter” in the bilateral relations that have been strained over South Korea’s decision to deploy the THAAD battery 
Prime Minister Lee, for his part, vowed to resume suspended economic and trade channels between the two countries, raising the prospect that Beijing would completely withdraw retaliatory measures against South Korean companies operating in China. “We should say, springtime is expected,” Li told Moon during their meeting at Great Hall of the People in Beijing. “We also all want China and South Korea relations to move forward in a stable and healthy manner.”
While the Chinese government has denied taking trade-restrictive measures in tourism and retail businesses against South Korea, speculation has been rampant that the authorities were behind hardships faced by South Korean companies. 
Analysts remain cautious whether Moon’s visit to China will lay out a new trajectory for the bilateral relationship. 
One of their concerns is that the Chinese pledge to lift restrictive measures against South Korean companies would be only “provisional”, depending upon the Moon administration’s stance over what China called “three no policies”. 
Following the agreement to patch up the THAAD dispute in October, controversy has since emerged whether Seoul made a pledge that it will never deploy additional THAAD systems, participate in a US-led strategic missile defence system or create a trilateral military alliance with the US and Japan.
“It is a positive sign that both countries kicked off their efforts to improve bilateral relations, but given the apparent differences over THAAD, Seoul and Beijing must focus on managing their conflicts in the longer term.” Kim Han-kwon, a professor at Korea National Diplomatic Academy.
While South Korea insists that THAAD is only there for North Korea’s missile and nuclear threat, China suspects that its powerful radar system could be used to spy into its territory.