Han News Source: China is considering inviting Lee Jae-min to attend the 80th anniversary of the victory in the War of Resistance against Japan.

According to a report by Yonhap News Agency on July 2nd, a South Korean diplomatic source revealed that China has recently inquired through various diplomatic channels about whether President Moon Jae-in of South Korea could attend the “80th Anniversary of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the Victory of the World Anti-Fascist War” commemoration event held in Beijing on September 3rd.
The report states that the South Korean government will make a decision on whether President Moon Jae-in will attend based on comprehensive consideration of past decisions by previous governments, as well as multiple factors such as Sino-South Korean relations and US-South Korea relations.
A South Korean diplomatic source mentioned that research would need to be conducted after considering various scenarios, stating, “There are many things to consider.”
In 2015, then-President Park Geun-hye attended the Chinese side’s victory anniversary commemoration event.
The report highlights that the South Korean government prioritizes practical diplomacy based on national interests, emphasizes the alliance with the US, while also maintaining good Sino-South Korean relations. However, under the escalating strategic competition between China and the US, attending such large-scale commemorative events might put pressure on future diplomatic efforts. Yonhap News Agency anticipates that South Korea will pay attention to the possibility of President Trump attending the aforementioned commemoration event. Given the tense relationship between China and the US, mainstream opinion suggests that Trump is unlikely to be the first to visit Beijing.