South Korean President Lee Jae Myung took a significant diplomatic gamble by hosting Chinese President Xi Jinping, an event that angered domestic protesters and earned a sharp rebuke from North Korea, all while failing to secure a public commitment from Beijing on security.
As Lee and Xi met in Gyeongju, hundreds of protesters marched in Seoul chanting “China Out.” Lee has previously cracked down on such rallies, claiming they hurt the economy.
In the summit, Lee’s main request was for Xi’s help in restarting dialogue with North Korea. This gamble failed immediately, as Pyongyang issued a statement calling Lee’s denuclearisation plan a “pipe dream” and vowing never to talk to the South.
Furthermore, while Lee raised sensitive issues like sanctions and the THAAD dispute, Chinese state media reports on the summit omitted any mention of these or the North Korea issue.
The summit did produce seven economic agreements, including a currency swap. But the week’s events highlight Lee’s precarious position: caught between a hostile North, an assertive China, a demanding U.S. ally, and a wary public.