2024-03-24 12:21:58
Lee Jae-myeong, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, has been making impromptu remarks on foreign affairs and security every day during the general election campaign, saying, “This is stimulating anti-China sentiment by reminding us of the controversy over Ambassador Xing Haiming’s dinner last year.” There were concerns that “the risk of diplomatic-related narratives is increasing.” Representative Lee mentioned China-Taiwan relations and said, “Why are you focusing on China? In response to his statement, “All you have to do is say ‘Thank you’,” the People Power Party criticized, saying, “It has once again confirmed the Democratic Party’s sense of submission to China.”
At the election committee meeting held at the central party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul on the 24th, People Power Party Emergency Response Committee Chairman Han Dong-hoon said, “Representative Lee said that we just need to observe the ‘cross-strait issue,’ but is it possible to just observe in the bloc’s world situation? He pointed out, “The only forces and countries in the world that support changing the status quo by force are China, North Korea, and Representative Lee’s Democratic Party.”
Representative Lee visited the mayor of Dangjin, South Chungcheong Province on the 22nd of this month and said, “Have you experienced what the Yoon Seok-yeol regime has done over the past two years? He pointed out that the biggest thing that has been damaged is diplomacy, and why do we intervene in cross-strait (China and Taiwan) issues? “What happens to the Taiwan Strait or what happens to domestic issues between China and Taiwan, what does it have to do with us?”
In relation to this, Chairman Han mentioned the dinner between Representative Lee and Chinese Ambassador to Korea Xing Haiming last year and criticized, “Representative Lee failed to refute Ambassador Xing’s almost threatening remark that he would regret it later if he bet on China’s defeat.”
At a campaign rally held in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province on the 23rd, Representative Lee claimed, “This general election is a judgment on the failure of state administration, the collapse of people’s livelihoods, the collapse of the economy, the peace crisis, and the destruction of democracy, but it is also a perfect new Korea-Japan war.” At the same time, regarding security issues, he said, “We have become a country where it is not strange if there is a war on the Korean Peninsula at any time,” and while pointing out the skyrocketing prices, he also said, “We have surpassed the 200th deficit country (in the rankings) and have become a country with a larger deficit than North Korea.” .
Regarding Representative Lee’s recent increase in diplomatic-related remarks, an official close to Representative Lee said, “The issue was raised in simple terms in order to emphasize the need for smart diplomacy.” However, experts pointed out that as the Taiwan Strait is Korea’s key maritime logistics transportation route, if the situation in this region becomes unstable, it could lead to an economic crisis. Kang Joon-young, a professor at the Graduate School of International and Area Studies at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, said, “98% of Korea’s trade volume is transported by ship, and 42-43% of this goes to Europe and other countries through the Taiwan Strait.” He added, “If there is a problem in the Taiwan Strait, our maritime transportation will eventually be affected.” “A critical problem arises.”
Controversy over ‘degrading Gangwon-do’ also arose over Representative Lee’s visit to northern Gyeonggi Province the day before and his comment, “If the division of the province is implemented without measures, there is a high possibility that it will degenerate into Gangwon-do.” Chairman Han said, “Representative Lee has the perception that Gangwon-do is inferior to Gyeonggi-do, but this is a very arrogant and unreasonable claim.” Representative Lee apologized on this day, saying, “I over-expressed the fact that (North Gyeonggi Province) has financial difficulties like Gangwon-do and is difficult because it is a border region.”
Reporter Dabin Yoon empty@donga.com
Reporter Seungwoo Lee suwoong2@donga.com
-
- great
- 0dog
-
- I’m so sad
- 0dog
-
- I’m angry
- 0dog
-
- I recommend it
- dog
Hot news now
2024-03-24 12:21:58