Unequal Equilibrium: China's Relations with Vietnam and South Korea

Abstract

Even though Vietnam and South Korea have never been threats to China’s territorial integrity, both Vietnam and Korea (before being divided) have been invaded by Chinese forces in the Korean War and the Sino-Vietnamese War. In ancient times, the Ming, Yuan, and the Qing Dynasty also invaded and temporarily occupied Vietnam and Korea. To some extent, both Vietnam and Korea have continually had to make difficult compromises to maintain a necessary working relationship with their far larger and more powerful neighbor. Thus, the sheer imbalance in economic and military force between China, Vietnam, and Korea, coupled with historical grievances dating back to imperial China, have meant that their relationships are perpetually in a state of “unequal equilibrium.” Under this equilibrium, close economic cooperation is necessary, and full-blown military conflicts are discouraged as a result, but fears over Chinese territorial encroachment and cultural dominance will always linger due to the extant power imbalance.  This article compares and contrasts how this equilibrium has been maintained between this trio of countries.