Beijing: China has approached South Korea regarding President Lee Jae Myung's potential attendance at a military parade planned for September, which marks the 80th anniversary of China's victory over Japanese aggression during World War II, according to diplomatic sources.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the decision on whether President Lee will attend carries significant diplomatic implications for his administration, which has only recently begun. This situation tests South Korea's foreign policy as it navigates the strategic rivalry between China and the United States. China has initiated discussions about Lee's possible participation through various diplomatic channels, though a formal invitation has yet to be issued.
The invitation to South Korea comes amid speculation that China may also invite U.S. President Donald Trump to the ceremony, planned for September 3 at Tiananmen Square in Beijing. A senior government official in Seoul stated that they are "reviewing" the possibility of Lee's attendance, while an official from the foreign ministry noted that it is a matter to be evaluated "in light of various circumstances."
President Lee, who has expressed a pro-China stance, has committed to diplomacy rooted in the alliance with the United States and advancing trilateral cooperation with the U.S. and Japan since assuming office on June 4. Attending the parade could place Lee in a delicate position, as he has not yet had a one-on-one meeting with Trump, a customary practice for previous South Korean presidents.
The South Korean president's office is working to arrange a summit between Lee and Trump, with speculation that it might occur later this month. The Lee administration has also expressed a desire to manage relations with China, anticipating Chinese President Xi Jinping's attendance at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in South Korea later this year.
Lee's decision will likely consider former President Park Geun-hye's attendance at a similar event in 2015. Despite Washington's disapproval, Park attended with hopes that Beijing would assist in resolving North Korea's nuclear issue, a strategy that ultimately backfired when Pyongyang conducted nuclear tests the following year. Seoul's deployment of the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system subsequently led to economic retaliation from Beijing.