Korea-US-China Trilateral Relations in the Xi Jinping Era: Complexity, Conflict, and Interdependence(Asia in World Politics)

This book represents the very first comprehensive work that examines Korea-US-China trilateral relations through a strategic triangular lens. It moves beyond conventional discussions of bilateral ties to provide an in-depth analysis of the complexity, conflict, and economic interdependence characterizing the relationships among these three nations. This book takes a fascinating approach by delving into how Xi Jinping's personality and traits influence China's decision-making and, in turn, affect the trilateral relationship between Korea, the U.S., and China. This angle is particularly compelling because it personalizes international relations, grounding geopolitical shifts and strategies in the individual characteristics of a key world leader. By examining Xi Jinping's personal impact, this book can offer insights that differ from traditional analyses focused more on economic or military metrics. This unique perspective could indeed attract readers interested in understanding the nuanced ways in which individual leadership styles impact global politics.

About the Author :
Duck Koo Chung is a former Minister of Commerce, Industry, and Energy of the Republic of Korea during President Kim Dae-Jung's administration (1999-2000). He is also the founder of the North East Asia Research Foundation (NEAR Foundation), South Korea's premier privately-funded independent think-tank, and currently serves as its chairman. After retirement from the cabinet, Chung became a professor at the Graduate School of International Studies (GSIS) at Seoul National University and served as the director of the Seoul National University Center for International Finance. In 2003, Peking University in China invited him as a Distinguished Chair Professor, where he taught Korean Economic Development and Open-Door Policy. In 2005, he served as a visiting professor at Renmin University of China in Beijing, where he taught the International Monetary Regime and the future prospects of the yuan. In 2013, he was appointed as a policy advisor at CASS (Chinese Academy of Social Sciences). During the early years of Xi Jinping's first term, the Chinese government recommended that Mr. Chung lead special lectures and academic seminars involving distinguished policymakers, bureaucrats, and high-ranking officials from 18 government departments. Presently, he is based at the Center for Strategies and International Studies (CSIS) as a Distinguished Visiting Fellow.

Review :
This comprehensive volume on the full range of trilateral challenges confronting the Republic of Korea, the People’s Republic of China, and the United States – with special attention to the impact of Xi Jinping and his China Dream - is both a must-read and ready reference for policy makers operating within the context of great power strategic competition. Focusing on the essential, if understudied, trilateral relationship of the ROK-U.S.-PRC, the volume offers valuable and frank insights for the United States and China, from the unique perspective of a global pivotal state - the ROK. The editors, two of Korea’s most distinguished public servants and thought leaders, have done a great service for leaders and citizens throughout the region. This book is a masterful exploration of the intricate trilateral dynamics between the United States, China, and South Korea. It offers a fresh perspective on the geopolitical, geoeconomic, and geotechnological challenges faced by South Korea. Vitally, the authors highlight the country’s great significance in the trilateral relationship, something that is all-too-often forgotten in the context of U.S.-China strategic competition. Through a unique, penetrating analysis of President Xi Jinping’s ideological framework, the structural dynamics of the Chinese Communist Party, and the evolving international landscape, this analytically balanced and empirically rich book provides invaluable insights into South Korea’s complex path forward. Regardless of differences in political outlook or national background, it is a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the future of East Asian Korea-US-China Trilateral Relations in the Xi Jinping Era is a fantastic new study that closely examines Chinese politics under Xi Jinping’s rule and its implications for the Korean Peninsula and beyond. The editors offer a useful guide for practitioners and scholars on how to unpack the complexities of Korea-US-China relations in an era of heightened geopolitical competition. This volume edited by two distinguished Korean scholars is a useful corrective to simplistic narratives of China’s rise analyzing the nuances and complexities of the emerging intra-Indo-Pacific dynamic, China’s weaknesses as well as its strengths, and the continuing crucial role of the US. The authors' compendium provides a timely and insightful analysis of the geopolitical and geo-economic challenges posed by China in the Xi Jinping era, while also offering solutions. For instance, regarding the economic challenge posed by China, the U.S. and South Korea should forge a strong technology alliance to revive American manufacturing, which has caught the attention of U.S. policy makers. However, much more must be done, and the authors’ front-line vantage point from a country that has dealt with China for thousands of years provides fresh, but realistic, perspectives.