China's rise and the two Koreas; politics, economics, security.

9781588266187

China's rise and the two Koreas; politics, economics, security.

Snyder, Scott.

Lynne Rienner Publishers, Inc.

2009

241 pages

$55.00

Hardcover

DS740

Incentives for economic cooperation led to Sino-South Korean diplomatic normalization in 1992 and an increasingly strong relationship between China and South Korea even as North Korea became more dependent on China, if politically alienated by China's reforms. This work by Snyder (a senior associate in both the International Relations Program of the Asia Foundation and the Pacific Forum, Center for Strategic & International Studies) explores the political and economic relations between China and the two Koreas following diplomatic normalization. He argues that the increasing economic dependence on China of the Koreas has not led to the successful use of political leverage by China on either of the other countries. It has led to a transformation of Sino- South Korean relations, but not to the extent that South Korea will pursue strategic realignment away from the United States and towards China, although the United States should be aware of the increasing influence of China on the Korean peninsula. He also includes a chapter discussing Korean responses to rivalries between China and Japan.

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