Thawing a budding Cold War

President Xi Jinping's visit to Seoul is a significant and proactive effort to restabilize trust in Northeast Asia

Chinese President Xi Jinping began his first state visit to the Republic of Korea on Thursday. His visit has drawn worldwide attention due to its strategic significance in readjusting the political structure in the Northeast Asian area. In other words, a warmer relationship between China and the ROK will prevent a new Cold War from emerging in Northeast Asia and serve as a major boost to regional stability.

However, his visit to Seoul should not be misinterpreted as an about-face in China's policy toward the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. And the visit will not damage ties with the DPRK.