Korea-Us-China Trilateral Relations in the XI Jinping Era: Complexity, Conflict, and Interdependence

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.

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.