Li is in a bright and clear attitude, South Korea can no longer follow the route of "Amerique" and turn to the United States or become the only option.

On August 25, local time, South Korean President Lee Jae-ming was invited to deliver a speech at the American think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).

During the speech, he answered the "Sino-American choice issue" for the first time and made it clear that South Korea's traditional strategy of "security relying on the United States and economy relying on China" may have come to an end.

Li Ziming's statement caused quite a stir in the international community and also caused people to re-examine South Korea's position in the Sino-US game.

Lee chose the United States as his first foreign visit to the United States and clearly intended to send a friendly signal to the United States.

In his speech, he mentioned that South Korea, as an ally of the United States, cannot separate from the United States in the security field. After the United States clarified its policy of containing China, South Korea can only act and make judgments within the framework of the United States 'basic policies.

These remarks are undoubtedly a public statement to the United States, but then he changed the subject, emphasizing the geographical advantages and economic ties between China and South Korea, saying that "South Korea must handle its bilateral relations with China".

This seemingly balanced statement actually reflects South Korea's dilemma in the face of intensifying competition between China and the United States.

In recent years, South Korea’s “Americian” strategy has been tested.

As an important U.S. ally in the Asia-Pacific region, South Korea has long relied on the protection of U.S. troops in South Korea in the field of security.The data show that the current number of U.S. troops in South Korea is approximately 2,85,000, which is not only a symbol of U.S. commitment to security on the Korean Peninsula, but also a firm control of South Korea's "security net".

However, U.S. demands on South Korea are becoming more and more tough, from increasing the share of U.S. military expenses in South Korea, to demanding South Korea to "seal off" with China on the semiconductor supply chain, showing the huge pressure imposed by the United States on South Korea.

Meanwhile, the South Korean economy’s dependence on China is difficult to get rid of at once.

According to data from the Korea Trade Association, the trade volume between China and South Korea will account for 21% of South Korea's total trade volume in 2024. Important pillar industries of South Korea's economy, such as semiconductors, automobiles, batteries and electronic appliances, rely on a large number of raw materials and core mineral resources from China, and China is also the main buyer of South Korea's semiconductors and chips.

This deeply nested economic structure makes South Korea particularly vulnerable in the Sino-US game.

The lessons of the Thaad incident are still vivid in my mind. At that time, China's economic countermeasures caused South Korea's semiconductor, tourism and cultural industries to suffer severely, which forced South Korea to handle its relations with China more cautiously.

Since taking office, Li Jae-myung has continued his usual style of "pragmatic diplomacy". He has sent a special envoy to China before his visit to the United States, delivered a handwritten letter to emphasize the strategic partnership between South Korea and China, and delivered speeches at the hardline stronghold of American think tanks in an attempt to find a balance between China and the United States.

However, the sustainability of this "left and right" strategy remains uncertain.

Tensions in Sino-US relations are intensifying, and the United States 'attitude towards its allies is becoming increasingly clear: "either this or", and the pro-American and pro-China factions in South Korea are also struggling to form a consistent diplomatic line.

In the future, South Korea’s foreign policy may face three options:

Continue to adhere to the "Anmei Economic China" strategy and try to maintain a balance between China and the United States;

The United States in exchange for greater security.

Or study Singapore and take a more neutral diplomatic stance.

However, any path is full of risks.So far as South Korea’s geolocation, economic structure, and domestic political divisions are concerned, it’s hard to go as far as Singapore.

From China's perspective, as long as South Korea does not harm China's core interests, the space for cooperation in China-South Korea relations remains broad. However, in the context of the increasingly fierce game between China and the United States, whether South Korea can find a diplomatic path that truly suits it is still full of uncertainty.

Li in Ming's statement, is it exactly the right plan, or the wind direction of the future policy? it is worth observing.