South Korean and Chinese officials prepare for China’s President Xi Jingping to discuss the current pandemic, the shifting U.S. administration, and North Korean’s nuclear programme. China’s top diplomat Wang Yi went to the South Korean capital where talks were held with South Korea’s foreign minister Kang Kyung-wha in the midst of expanding change in governmental relations along with COVID-19. Though the two countries have had their suspicions about each other in the past, however as they share concerns and challenges with their neighbor’s nuclear programme and the virus, they have come together in discussions after finding common ground. I think that this is a very interesting shift in the geopolitics in Asia, as these two countries have not been trusting of each other in the past. It is very important that they are now in contact with each other and it has the potential to shift relations between the three asian countries and the U.S. This connection between South Korea and China may pose a threat to North Korea and make negotiations surrounding nuclear weapons more hostile and difficult, though that is the ultimate goal. As President Trump had talks with North Korea’s leader in the past, though they had stalled, the change in administration and policy may be an issue. I think this change in the geopolitical system in Asia is applicable through the realist theory. Though some of the negotiations were supposedly about the global crisis with the pandemic, the change in relations is a power play. With a shifting U.S. government administration, there is a possibility for change in policy and involvement with international affairs, which could possibly leave North Korea with an expanding nuclear programme. China wants to remain in control in the region, forcing them to tie up loose ends with South Korea in an attempt to combat North Korea’s presence and strength.
