China’s Xi to host South Korea’s Lee in New Year amid Japan tensions

Chinese President Xi Jinping will host South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on a state visit beginning Sunday, underscoring Beijing’s effort to strengthen ties with Seoul amid growing tensions with Japan over Taiwan.

The upcoming trip marks the leaders’ second meeting in just two months — a rare frequency that analysts interpret as a sign of China’s determination to deepen cooperation with South Korea, particularly in trade and tourism.

China-Japan relations have hit a low point in recent months after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested in November that a Chinese attack on Taiwan could prompt a military response from Tokyo. Against this backdrop, Xi’s invitation to Lee is seen as a calculated move to tighten diplomatic bonds with Seoul ahead of Lee’s planned visit to Japan.

“China wants to highlight South Korea’s importance more than before,” said Kang Jun-young, a professor of political economics at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies. “Beijing seems to have strategically decided it was better to meet with President Lee before Seoul holds another summit with Japan.”

President Lee’s administration has pledged to “restore” relations with Beijing, acknowledging China as South Korea’s largest trading partner. The shift follows a period of strained ties under former president Yoon Suk Yeol, whose policies leaned toward Washington and Tokyo and included criticism of China’s Taiwan stance.

Now, Lee appears to be pursuing a balanced approach — maintaining ties with traditional allies while engaging more closely with Beijing to avoid disruptions that could affect South Korea’s economic stability. In December, he stated he would not take sides in the diplomatic dispute between China and Japan