{"id":487159,"date":"2026-01-02T13:27:07","date_gmt":"2026-01-02T13:27:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/487159\/"},"modified":"2026-01-02T13:27:07","modified_gmt":"2026-01-02T13:27:07","slug":"chinas-xi-to-host-south-koreas-lee-from-sunday-amid-japan-tensions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/487159\/","title":{"rendered":"China&#8217;s Xi to host South Korea&#8217;s Lee from Sunday amid Japan tensions"},"content":{"rendered":"<ul data-testid=\"Summary\" class=\"summary-module__summary__QjADA\">\n<li data-testid=\"Body\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__dark-grey__UFC18 text-module__regular__qJJtA text-module__small__sph8i body-module__base__o--Cl body-module__small_body__gOmDf summary-module__point__UgXPz\">Xi&#8217;s invitation aims to deepen ties before Lee&#8217;s Japan visit<\/li>\n<li data-testid=\"Body\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__dark-grey__UFC18 text-module__regular__qJJtA text-module__small__sph8i body-module__base__o--Cl body-module__small_body__gOmDf summary-module__point__UgXPz\">South Korea seeks balance amid US alliance and North Korea challenges<\/li>\n<li data-testid=\"Body\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__dark-grey__UFC18 text-module__regular__qJJtA text-module__small__sph8i body-module__base__o--Cl body-module__small_body__gOmDf summary-module__point__UgXPz\">Lee&#8217;s visit to address tech, supply chains<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>SEOUL\/BEIJING, Jan 2 (Reuters) &#8211; Chinese President Xi Jinping will host South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on a state visit starting on Sunday, signalling Beijing&#8217;s intent to strengthen ties with Seoul amidst strained relations with Japan over Taiwan.<\/p>\n<p>The visit marks the second <a data-testid=\"Link\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/china\/south-koreas-lee-asks-chinas-xi-help-engaging-north-korea-2025-11-01\/\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__inherit-color__PhuPF text-module__inherit-font__1P1hv text-module__inherit-size__EyiQW link-module__link__INqxZ link-module__underline_default__-okuC\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">meeting<\/a> between Xi and Lee in just two months, an unusually short interval that signals China&#8217;s keen interest in reinforcing ties with Seoul and boosting economic collaboration and tourism, analysts say.<\/p>\n<p data-testid=\"promo-box\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__dark-grey__UFC18 text-module__regular__qJJtA text-module__small__sph8i body-module__base__o--Cl body-module__small_body__gOmDf article-body-module__promo-box__hVl8h\"> Sign up  <a data-testid=\"Link\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/china\/chinas-xi-host-south-koreas-lee-new-year-amid-japan-tensions-2026-01-02\/undefined?location=article-paragraph&amp;redirectUrl=%2Fworld%2Fchina%2Fchinas-xi-host-south-koreas-lee-new-year-amid-japan-tensions-2026-01-02%2F\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__inherit-color__PhuPF text-module__inherit-font__1P1hv text-module__inherit-size__EyiQW link-module__link__INqxZ link-module__underline_default__-okuC\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">here.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Relations between China and Japan hit the lowest point in years after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested in November that Tokyo could take military action if Beijing attacked Taiwan.<\/p>\n<p>Xi&#8217;s invitation to Lee for a state visit from Sunday is a calculated move aimed at deepening bilateral relations especially before the South Korean leader visits Japan, analysts say.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;China wants to emphasize South Korea&#8217;s importance slightly more than before,&#8221; said Kang Jun-young, professor of political economics at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;China appears to have strategically decided that it would be better to have (Lee) visit China before South Korea holds a summit with Japan again,&#8221; he added.<\/p>\n<p>Wi Sung-lac, Lee&#8217;s top security adviser, said on Friday that he expected the Lee-Xi summit to open a &#8220;new chapter&#8221; in bilateral ties.<\/p>\n<p>He added that the two countries were preparing more than 10 deals on the economy, businesses and climate, although they were not working on a joint statement.<\/p>\n<p>The Lee administration has said it aims to &#8220;restore&#8221; ties with Beijing, acknowledging China is South Korea&#8217;s largest trading partner.<\/p>\n<p>The pivot follows strained relations between the two countries under Lee&#8217;s predecessor Yoon Suk Yeol, due to his closer alignment with Washington and Tokyo, as well as criticism of China&#8217;s handling of Taiwan.<\/p>\n<p>Now, South Korea is trying to maintain a balance but leaning towards cooperation with China to avoid being forced into any troubles that would threaten the Asian industrial powerhouse.<\/p>\n<p>Lee said in December he wouldn&#8217;t take sides in the diplomatic dispute between China and Japan.<\/p>\n<p>US ALLIANCE AND NORTH KOREAStill, China and South Korea face <a data-testid=\"Link\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/china\/issues-stake-summit-between-chinas-xi-south-koreas-lee-2025-10-31\/\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__inherit-color__PhuPF text-module__inherit-font__1P1hv text-module__inherit-size__EyiQW link-module__link__INqxZ link-module__underline_default__-okuC\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">complex issues<\/a> as China challenges the U.S., South Korea&#8217;s major ally in the region, and as nuclear-armed North Korea remains unpredictable.<\/p>\n<p>China is North Korea&#8217;s major ally and economic lifeline.<\/p>\n<p>Shin Beom-chul, a former South Korean vice defence minister and a senior research fellow at the Sejong Institute, said Xi and Lee might discuss some contentious issues such as efforts to modernise the South Korea-U.S. alliance.<\/p>\n<p>Currently, about 28,500 U.S. troops are based in South Korea to counter any threat from North Korea.<\/p>\n<p>U.S. officials a plan to make those U.S. forces more flexible to respond to other threats, such as defending Taiwan and checking China&#8217;s growing military reach.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Korea is not simply responding to threats on the peninsula,&#8221; General Xavier Brunson, commander of U.S. Forces Korea, said at a forum on Dec. 29. &#8220;Korea sits at the crossroads of broader regional dynamics that shape the balance of power across Northeast Asia,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n<p>Wi, the security adviser, said South Korea would also try to reassure China that its plans to build <a data-testid=\"Link\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/china\/south-koreas-nuclear-submarine-gamble-raises-prospect-underwater-arms-race-asia-2025-12-05\/\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__inherit-color__PhuPF text-module__inherit-font__1P1hv text-module__inherit-size__EyiQW link-module__link__INqxZ link-module__underline_default__-okuC\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">nuclear-powered submarines<\/a> were aimed only at deterring North Korea.<\/p>\n<p>Lee&#8217;s agenda with Xi includes persuading China to facilitate dialogue with North Korea, experts said, at a time when North Korea has dismissed Lee&#8217;s outreach.<\/p>\n<p>TECH, SUPPLY CHAINSLee&#8217;s visit to Beijing is also expected to address cooperation in areas including <a data-testid=\"Link\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/china\/south-koreas-president-lee-visit-china-january-4-7-2025-12-30\/\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__inherit-color__PhuPF text-module__inherit-font__1P1hv text-module__inherit-size__EyiQW link-module__link__INqxZ link-module__underline_default__-okuC\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">critical minerals<\/a>, supply chain and green industries, his office said earlier.<\/p>\n<p>Seoul sources nearly half of its supply of rare earth minerals, critical to semiconductor manufacturing, from China. Beijing also accounts for a third of Seoul&#8217;s annual chip exports, the largest market by far.<\/p>\n<p>Last month, South Korean Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan and Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao agreed to work towards stable rare earth supplies, South Korea said.<\/p>\n<p>The visit may also foster partnerships on artificial intelligence and advanced technologies, experts said.<\/p>\n<p>China&#8217;s Huawei Technologies plans to roll out the Ascend 950 AI chips in South Korea this year, aiming to provide an alternative to Nvidia for Korean firms, Huawei&#8217;s South Korea CEO Balian Wang told a press conference last month.<\/p>\n<p>Wang mentioned ongoing discussions with potential customers, without naming those clients.<\/p>\n<p>Huawei did not respond to questions from Reuters about Wang&#8217;s comments.<\/p>\n<p data-testid=\"SignOff\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__dark-grey__UFC18 text-module__regular__qJJtA text-module__extra_small__8Buss body-module__full_width__kCIGb body-module__extra_small_body__Bfz20 sign-off-module__text__LQAMP\">Additional reporting by Brenda Goh, Hyunjoo Jin, Writing by Ju-min Park; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan<\/p>\n<p data-testid=\"Body\" dir=\"ltr\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__dark-grey__UFC18 text-module__regular__qJJtA text-module__small__sph8i body-module__base__o--Cl body-module__small_body__gOmDf article-body-module__element__5eCce article-body-module__trust-badge__5mS3f\">Our Standards: <a data-testid=\"Link\" target=\"_blank\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thomsonreuters.com\/en\/about-us\/trust-principles.html\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__dark-grey__UFC18 text-module__medium__2Rl30 text-module__small__sph8i link-module__link__INqxZ link-module__underline_default__-okuC link-module__with-icon__qlg76\">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.reutersagency.com\/en\/licensereuterscontent\/?utm_medium=rcom-article-media&amp;utm_campaign=rcom-rcp-lead\" target=\"_blank\" dir=\"ltr\" class=\"button-module__link__A3sD0 button-module__secondary__70gBu button-module__round__QDFgq button-module__w_auto__Sem-F\" data-testid=\"LicenceContentButton\" rel=\"noopener\">Purchase Licensing Rights<\/a><a data-testid=\"AuthorBioImageLink\" class=\"author-bio-module__author-image__jcaG3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/authors\/laurie-chen\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" tabindex=\"-1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p data-testid=\"Body\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__dark-grey__UFC18 text-module__regular__qJJtA text-module__extra_small__8Buss body-module__base__o--Cl body-module__extra_small_body__Bfz20 author-bio-module__description__9ynkB\">Laurie Chen is a China Correspondent at Reuters&#8217; Beijing bureau, covering politics and general news. Before joining Reuters, she reported on China for six years at Agence France-Presse and the South China Morning Post in Hong Kong. She speaks fluent Mandarin. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Xi&#8217;s invitation aims to deepen ties before Lee&#8217;s Japan visit South Korea seeks balance amid US alliance and&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":487160,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[216147,3774,216161,10018,217458,216194,13196,219982,219983,216141,216208,165876,165875,165863,165888,216209,165874,165869,165886,165878,165866,165871,165882,165881,216152,165890,216153,216154,216210,219986,165872,165879,216163,165889,165867,165873,165887,165885,216213,165870,165880,165884,216207,165853,216205,216150,165856,65444,217466,216149,50,216143,216155,216156,165860,217029,219981,130364,219984,242,217465,219985,18705,216158,216190,216157,165861,68,131,103],"class_list":{"0":"post-487159","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world","8":"tag-amers","9":"tag-asia","10":"tag-asxpac","11":"tag-chip","12":"tag-chip1","13":"tag-cmpny","14":"tag-cn","15":"tag-coms","16":"tag-coms1","17":"tag-cwp","18":"tag-destabn","19":"tag-destafa","20":"tag-destc","21":"tag-destcsa","22":"tag-destd","23":"tag-destdnp","24":"tag-deste","25":"tag-destg","26":"tag-destgns","27":"tag-destgro","28":"tag-destlby","29":"tag-destm","30":"tag-destmtl","31":"tag-desto","32":"tag-destocatpm","33":"tag-destoil","34":"tag-destoustpm","35":"tag-destouswdm","36":"tag-destpco","37":"tag-destpcu","38":"tag-destpge","39":"tag-destpsc","40":"tag-destrast","41":"tag-destrbn","42":"tag-destreulb","43":"tag-destrnp","44":"tag-destrws","45":"tag-destrwsa","46":"tag-destseatp","47":"tag-destsof","48":"tag-destu","49":"tag-destucdptest","50":"tag-destz","51":"tag-dip","52":"tag-easia","53":"tag-emrg","54":"tag-gen","55":"tag-jp","56":"tag-kr","57":"tag-namer","58":"tag-news","59":"tag-news1","60":"tag-packageus-top-news","61":"tag-packageworld-news","62":"tag-pol","63":"tag-publ","64":"tag-rulesworld-south-korea","65":"tag-semi","66":"tag-tcom","67":"tag-tech","68":"tag-teeq","69":"tag-tel","70":"tag-tmt","71":"tag-topcmb","72":"tag-topicworld-china-slug","73":"tag-topnws","74":"tag-trd","75":"tag-us","76":"tag-war","77":"tag-world"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"","error":"Validation failed: Text character limit of 500 exceeded"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/487159","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=487159"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/487159\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/487160"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=487159"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=487159"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=487159"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}