Why China Needs Korea more than Taiwan
China is a rising power that has ambitions to challenge the United States and its allies in the Asia-Pacific region. However, China also faces many security threats and challenges, both internally and externally. One of the most important regions for China’s security is the Korean peninsula, which is located very close to China’s center of gravity: Beijing. In this blog post, I will explain why the Korean peninsula is more essential for China’s security than Taiwan, which is often seen as the main flashpoint in the cross-strait relations. I will analyse two main factors: Korea’s role as the main invasion route towards China and Beijing; and secondly, its hidden role as the first link of the first island chain.
The first factor is the historical and geographical role of Korea as the main invasion route towards China and Beijing. The Korean peninsula is a narrow and mountainous landmass that protrudes from the northeastern corner of the Asian continent. It is surrounded by the Yellow Sea, the East China Sea, and the Sea of Japan. It is also connected to the mainland by a narrow strip of land called the Liaodong Peninsula, which is part of China’s Liaoning province. The Korean peninsula has been a strategic buffer zone between China and Japan for centuries, and it has also been a gateway for foreign invasions into China.
The most famous example of such an invasion was the Mongol invasion of China in the 13th century, which was facilitated by the Mongol conquest of Korea. The Mongols used Korea as a base to launch naval attacks on China’s coastal cities and to transport troops and supplies across the Yellow Sea. The Mongols eventually overthrew the Song dynasty and established the Yuan dynasty, which ruled China for almost a century. Another example was the Japanese invasion of Korea in the late 16th century, which was part of the Japanese attempt to conquer China and the rest of Asia. The Japanese forces occupied most of Korea and threatened to cross the Yellow Sea and attack Beijing. However, they were eventually repelled by the combined resistance of the Korean and Ming Chinese armies, with the help of the Korean naval hero Admiral Yi Sun-sin.
These historical examples show that Korea has been a vital strategic location for China’s security, especially for the protection of Beijing, which is the political, economic, and cultural center of China. Beijing is located in the North China Plain, which is a large and flat area that is vulnerable to attacks from the north and east. The North China Plain is also the cradle of Chinese civilization, and the region where the Han Chinese people emerged. It is the core area of China’s national identity and legitimacy. Therefore, any foreign power that wants to conquer or threaten China would have to go through Korea and the Yellow Sea, which are the main access points to the North China Plain and Beijing. This is why China has always tried to maintain a friendly and stable relationship with Korea, or at least to prevent Korea from falling under the influence or control of hostile powers, such as Japan or the United States.
The second factor is the hidden role of Korea as the first link of the first island chain. The first island chain is a term that refers to the chain of islands that runs from the Kuril Islands, through Japan, the Ryukyu Islands, Taiwan, the Philippines, and Borneo. It is a strategic concept that was first proposed by the American diplomat John Foster Dulles in the 1950s, during the Cold War. It was a plan to surround and contain the Soviet Union and China with naval bases and alliances in the West Pacific. The first island chain is also a natural barrier that separates the East China Sea and the South China Sea from the Pacific Ocean. It limits the access and projection of China’s naval and air power into the open waters and the regions beyond the chain, such as Southeast Asia, Oceania, and the Indian Ocean.
However, the first island chain is not complete without the inclusion of Korea, which is often overlooked or ignored in the strategic discussions. Korea is actually the northernmost and easternmost link of the first island chain, and it plays a crucial role in blocking China’s access to the Sea of Japan and the Pacific Ocean. The Sea of Japan is a semi-enclosed sea that is bordered by Korea, Japan, and Russia. It is connected to the Pacific Ocean by several straits, such as the Tsushima Strait, the Korea Strait, and the La Pérouse Strait. The Sea of Japan is an important waterway for trade and transportation, as well as for military operations and exercises. It is also rich in natural resources, such as fish, oil, and gas. China has a long-standing interest in the Sea of Japan, and it has been trying to expand its presence and influence in the area. However, China’s access to the Sea of Japan is limited by Korea and Japan, which control the key straits and islands that guard the entrances to the sea. China also faces the challenge of the US-Japan alliance, which has a strong military presence and cooperation in the Sea of Japan.
Therefore, Korea is a vital link in the first island chain that can either enable or hinder China’s maritime ambitions in the West Pacific. If Korea is friendly and cooperative with China, it can provide China with a strategic opening and a potential ally in the Sea of Japan and the Pacific Ocean. If Korea is hostile or aligned with the United States and Japan, it can pose a serious threat and a formidable obstacle to China’s naval and air power in the region. This is why China has been trying to improve its relations with both North and South Korea, and to prevent the Korean peninsula from becoming a source of conflict or instability. China also opposes the deployment of the US-led Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system in South Korea, which it sees as a threat to its security and a part of the US strategy to contain China.
In conclusion, the Korean peninsula is more essential for China’s security than Taiwan, because it is closer to China’s center of gravity: Beijing, and because it is the first link of the first island chain. Korea’s role as the main invasion route towards China and Beijing makes it a vital buffer zone and a gateway for China’s security. Korea’s role as the hidden link of the first island chain makes it a crucial factor in China’s maritime strategy and ambitions in the West Pacific. Therefore, China needs Korea more than Taiwan, and it will try to maintain a stable and favorable relationship with Korea, or at least to prevent Korea from becoming a hostile or a pro-US power.
