Latest news with #DaiBing
Korea Herald
22-07-2025
- Climate
- Korea Herald
US, Chinese embassies offer condolences to victims of heavy rain in S. Korea
The US and Chinese embassies in South Korea expressed condolences Tuesday to the victims of last week's downpours that left at least 19 people dead and nine missing. "The US Embassy in Seoul offers our sincere condolences to the people of the Republic of Korea for the tragic loss of life and extensive damage caused by recent flooding and landslides," the US Embassy wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. "We sincerely hope for the safety of everyone impacted and a swift recovery for the communities still facing this tragedy," it added. Late Monday, Chinese Ambassador to South Korea Dai Bing also extended his condolences to the victims, offering "heartfelt sympathies" to the bereaved families and the injured victims. "We believe that people in the affected areas will surely overcome this difficulty with the joint efforts of the South Korean government and all sectors of society, and return to normal production and life as soon as possible," he said. (Yonhap)
Korea Herald
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Korea Herald
China's top envoy optimistic that bilateral public sentiment will improve
Chinese Ambassador Dai Bing expressed confidence Tuesday that recent strains in public sentiment between South Korea and China, particularly among the younger generations, will ease over time, stressing that friendship and cooperation will define the future of bilateral relations. Dai made the remarks during an embassy event promoting youth exchanges, as he addressed the recent rise in anti-China sentiment in Korea, fueled by some far-right conservatives, amid the political turmoil following former President Yoon Suk Yeol's botched martial law imposition in December. "Some say that friendly sentiment between the peoples of the two countries, especially among the youth, is not very strong. I understand that the causes are complex and that it will take time to resolve, but I remain optimistic and confident about this," Dai said through an interpreter in his opening remarks. He also pointed to an increase in tourist visits between the two countries among the younger generations since Beijing introduced a temporary visa waiver program for short-term South Korean travelers in November. "I encourage everyone to actively engage in exchanges and cooperation across various fields between the two countries," he said. "Through these efforts, we hope you will contribute positively to the shared prosperity of China and South Korea and the advancement of our bilateral relations." Dai also voiced concern about the spread of false information and misleading commentaries about China, strongly denying accusations that China interfered in South Korean politics. "In this era of one-person media, false information spreads easily. At times we hear talk of 'China's collapse,' and at other times, 'the China threat' narrative. Even in the Korean media, fake news and misleading commentaries about China are not uncommon," he said. "Accusations that China interfered in South Korea's presidential election are entirely political fabrications." Recalling the recent first phone call between President Lee Jae Myung and Chinese President Xi Jinping, Dai stressed that it marks "a new opportunity" for the development of bilateral ties. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines, Dai said Beijing is "seriously considering" Xi's visit to South Korea for the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, set to take place in the southeastern city of Gyeongju Oct. 31-Nov. 1. "China highly values South Korea's attitude and talks are ongoing regarding (attending) the summit through diplomatic channels," he said. (Yonhap)
AllAfrica
15-04-2025
- Business
- AllAfrica
China's propaganda coup and the danger of US indecision
Skip to content Cartooons: Horsey / Seattle Times China is a master of twisting narrative. On April 11, Chinese Ambassador to South Korea Dai Bing posted on his X account in Korean claiming that South Korea should be thankful to China for the 90-day postponement of US tariffs on Korean exports. He wrote: 'The so-called 'mutual tariffs' have been postponed for 90 days. Is that a good thing?! Don't forget, if it weren't for China's decisive counterattack and strong deterrence, this 90-day grace period would never have existed! And don't forget, this is only a 90-day grace period!' 이른바 '상호 관세'가 90일간 유예됐다고 합니다. 좋은 것이라고 할 수 있을까요?!잊지 마십시오. 중국의 단호한 반격과 강력한 저지가 없었다면 이 90일 유예기간은 아예 존재하지도 않았을 것입니다! 그리고 잊지 마십시오. 이것은 단지 90일의 유예일 뿐입니다! — Dai Bing 戴兵 다이빙 (@AmbDaiBing) April 11, 2025 While many South Koreans responded with outrage, my reaction wasn't anger. It was awe. I thought to myself, 'They've turned narrative manipulation into an art form.' But it's not all skill. China has been able to steal the narrative in part because the US left the door open. The initial blanket imposition of tariffs on countries around the world – including the uninhabited, penguin-inhabited islands near Australia – has undermined US credibility, not just economically but diplomatically as well. By acting without strategic clarity, Washington has given Beijing the space to present itself as the only adult in the room. China now claims that it is absorbing the blow of US tariffs – and that its retaliation is the very reason neighbors like South Korea have received a temporary reprieve. And now, nations like South Korea are caught in a confusing middle ground. China's narrative partly holds water, because Washington's actions have been hard to defend. This kind of strategic ambiguity opens the door for Beijing to offer a twisted form of clarity. When allies are unsure whether Washington is friend or foe, Beijing's message suddenly seems more reasonable, even when it's revisionist. Perception becomes power. Compare today's strategy with President Dwight D. Eisenhower's approach during the Cold War. Eisenhower understood the stakes of pushing vulnerable allies into economic crisis – and potentially, into the arms of totalitarian adversaries. Scholar William S. Borden wrote about it in his 1984 book The Pacific Alliance. At a pivotal cabinet meeting on August 6, 1954, Secretary of State John Foster Dulles reminded his listeners that Japan in the 1930s had chosen the path of military expansion 'to get control of their own markets and their own materials.' He argued that if the US offered tariff concessions, it could 'keep Japan on our side'; otherwise, 'Japan could very soon go bankrupt.' He urged every agency to support such concessions. Eisenhower agreed, stating that 'this kind of trade should not only be allowed but encouraged, particularly as far as Japan is concerned with the neighboring Red areas in Asia.' He warned, 'We can't force them back beyond the point of no return. If we do, they will say 'To Hell with you' we'll go Communist.' That's what this is all about. We must hold Japan for the free world or we must go to war to keep it in the free world. This is a world problem. We have got to work on a broad front. We have got to do a considerable job of education.' Acknowledging domestic economic concerns, Eisenhower added, 'Don't let us let Japan reach a point where they want to invite the Kremlin into their country. Everything else fades into insignificance in the light of such a threat.' The Eisenhower administration understood that economic sacrifice in the short term was a necessary investment in long-term American hegemony and geopolitical stability. In contrast, the current tariff approach prioritizes short-term political optics over strategic unity. Worse, it risks undermining the very coalition needed to confront China's growing aggression. If the US appears unreliable in its commitments, both allies and adversaries will begin planning for a world in which American leadership is conditional, temporary and transactional. What allies are learning now is dangerous: that Washington might treat them the same as its rivals, with little warning or differentiation. The key lesson for US partners from this tariff war isn't about trade – it's about trust. If America wants to lead, it must show that its leadership is reliable. China is filling the void where US clarity should be. And unless Washington re-centers its foreign economic policy around long-term alliance-building – the way Eisenhower once did – more partners are likely to look elsewhere for stability. The world is watching closely. Allies are calculating risks. And while China pushes its version of the truth, America's greatest danger is not Chinese propaganda – it's the silence created when allies feel they have no one to count on. If Washington wants to preserve its place in the world order, it needs more than strong policy. It needs consistency, conviction, and the courage to treat its friends like friends – not just when it's easy, but when it's hard. Hanjin Lew, a political commentator specializing in East Asian affairs, is a former international spokesman for South Korean conservative parties.
Korea Herald
20-03-2025
- Politics
- Korea Herald
Justice Ministry denies rumors about visa-free entry for Chinese
The Ministry of Justice on Wednesday denied a recent online rumor that a revision of the skilled worker visa system will permit a mass influx of Chinese nationals on a visa-free basis. The rumor is tangentially related to the September 2023 revision of the country's E-7-4 visa issued to skilled foreign workers, a key provision of which is an increase of the yearly quota for holders of such visas from 2,000 to 35,000. The online rumor claimed that large-scale visa-free entry of Chinese nationals is slated to begin in April, posting information about the E-7-4 visa, which is unrelated to visa-free entry. Those who spread the false information said the supposed visa-free entry would lead to an exponential increase in Chinese residents here, and urged others to make complaints by posting the office phone numbers of Justice Ministry officials. "The E-7-4 visa is usually issued to foreign workers holding E-9 visas (non-professional employment visa) who have lived here for at least four years and have a certain level of Korean language skills. The expansion of the quota from 2,000 to 35,000 is not related to visa-free entry, nor is it restricted to people from a certain country," the ministry said in a press release. It added that of the 31,869 holders of the E-7-4 visa as of February, only 78 are Chinese nationals. To transfer from E-9 to E-7-4, an applicant must demonstrate considerable skills in their field, obtain a recommendation from an employer for whom they worked at least one year, and must not have a record of tax evasion or criminal activity resulting in a fine of 1 million won ($685) or more. After getting the E-7-4, the visa holder must work for at least two years at the company from which they received the recommendation. The policy is intended to enable foreign nationals to work here for a longer period of time, the ministry said. Visa-free entry to South Korea is permitted to holders of passports from 112 jurisdictions who have been issued the Korea Electronic Travel Authorization or K-ETA. Mainland China is not one of these jurisdictions. Chinese nationals from the mainland can stay here temporarily without a visa if they qualify for the tourist/transit B-2 status, which is for transit stopovers. Concern has been growing over the spread of anti-China sentiment and malicious rumors in Korea. A far-right online platform recently claimed that 99 Chinese spies have been caught by the South Korean and US militaries for rigging elections here, which United States Forces Korea said was entirely false. A 42-year-old man dressed up as the Marvel Comics character Captain America was caught last month trying to break into the Chinese Embassy in Seoul, making terror threats against the compound. Chinese Ambassador to South Korea Dai Bing voiced his concern over the "destructive" anti-China faction, which has been fueling election interference claims and leading protests. In a meeting with local reporters last month, he said their actions could seriously harm relations between the two countries.
Korea Herald
12-02-2025
- Politics
- Korea Herald
Seoul's nuclear envoy requests China's constructive role in Korean denuclearization
Seoul's top nuclear envoy on Wednesday requested for China to play a constructive role in the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula during a meeting with Beijing's ambassador to Seoul, the foreign ministry said. Cho Koo-rae, vice foreign minister for strategy and intelligence, made the request as he met Chinese Ambassador Dai Bing for discussions on bilateral relations and Korean Peninsula issues in Seoul. According to the ministry, Cho expressed concerns over North Korea's provocations and illegal military cooperation with Russia, urging Beijing to play a constructive role in halting these actions, and for peace, stability and denuclearization on the peninsula. Dai said there were no changes to China's policy on the Korean Peninsula, noting his country would continue to play a constructive role in resolving issues. The two sides also acknowledged the positive momentum in bilateral relations and agreed to continue strategic communication to promote peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula. (Yonhap)
