Chinese state media have expressed strong concerns over discussions between South Korea and the United States on nuclear-powered submarine construction cooperation, calling it "a serious threat to nuclear non-proliferation." The nuclear submarine talks between Seoul and Washington have emerged as a new flashpoint in Korea-China relations as the two countries push for a summit in early next year.
Song Zhongping, a Chinese military expert, said in an interview with the Global Times, an English-language newspaper affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party's official People's Daily, published Sunday that "the nuclear-powered submarine program between South Korea and the United States carries high risks of nuclear proliferation."
National Security Office Director Wi Sung-lac met with U.S. Secretary of State and National Security Advisor Marco Rubio and others in Washington on December 16-17 to discuss follow-up measures from the Korea-U.S. summit, including a roadmap for nuclear submarine construction.
Song criticized that "the United States has set a bad precedent through its AUKUS nuclear submarine program with Australia, and a similar case is emerging in South Korea." He added that "the United States allowing some of its allies to use its nuclear technology and nuclear fuel will inevitably undermine the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)."
He also pointed out that "an arms race over nuclear submarines could unfold as Japan has also mentioned plans to possess nuclear submarines, which would undermine peace and stability." Song noted that "the more countries possess nuclear submarines, the higher the risk of not only nuclear accidents but also the proliferation of nuclear technology."
He went on to claim that "although South Korea is a maritime nation, it has a limited coastline and therefore has no practical need to operate nuclear submarines."
These arguments appear to be an extension of the perception that South Korea's acquisition of nuclear submarines is part of the United States' strategy to counter China. The Chinese government has maintained its official "principled position" while signaling its wariness through experts.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said at a regular briefing in October that "China hopes that South Korea and the United States will substantively fulfill their nuclear non-proliferation obligations and do things that promote regional peace and stability, not the opposite."
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Cho Hyun-dong said in an appearance on Yonhap News TV on Sunday that "we are conducting consultations with China" regarding the possibility of a Korea-China summit in early next year. Minister Cho said "we will discuss how the two countries can strategically cooperate for peace and prosperity in Northeast Asia" and that "seeking China's cooperation to bring North Korea to the dialogue table by any means will be an important task."
Regarding the West Sea structures issue, he explained that "to get along well between neighboring countries, we need to build fences cleanly, maintain them well, and keep them properly," adding that "discussions will take place in that context."
On follow-up consultations from the Korea-U.S. summit, he said "we are conducting close consultations with the U.S. side regarding nuclear submarines, uranium enrichment and reprocessing, defense budget expansion, and shipbuilding."
