China’s Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong has requested ‘rational judgment’ from South Korea regarding the issue of a spy balloon that was shot down by the US military. This was discussed during an official meeting between Sun and South Korean Ambassador to China Jeong Jae-ho, where they also discussed the relationship between the two countries and the issue of the Korean Peninsula. Sun emphasized that it is of utmost importance for South Korea to make a rational judgment on the issue, rather than blindly trusting the US’s official statement. Sun also urged the two countries to strengthen their relationship and work together to resolve the issue and ensure a peaceful Korean Peninsula.
While the South Korean embassy did not mention the spy balloon issue in its report of the meeting, Sun’s bringing it up is seen as a check against South Korea’s statement of trust in the US announcement on the issue. Sun’s insistence on South Korea’s independent judgement of the incident reflects China’s position that the two countries should work together to protect their mutual interests and maintain the peace in the region. Sun’s call for rationality and cooperation between China and South Korea signals the two countries’ willingness to work together for the betterment of the region.
South Korea is determined to ensure that no country should violate the territorial integrity of another, while China insists that the balloon in question was simply a weather observation vehicle. This is a significant development as it marks the first official meeting between the two countries’ respective vice ministers. In addition, the meeting reflects the importance of both countries working together to find a mutually beneficial resolution to the issue, as the relationship between the two countries is highly important for the stability of the region. It is hoped that the two countries will be able to identify common ground and work towards a resolution that is satisfactory to both sides.