China Makes Further Claims on Korean History
|This is quite a bold claim from the Chinese:
An academic will publish this week a complete translation of an official Chinese study that co-opts the early Korean Shilla and Bakje kingdoms for Chinese history. The offending paper was published by a research center under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, which is under the jurisdiction of the Chinese State Council and includes the Baekje (18 B.C.?660 A.D.) and Shilla (57 B.C.-935 A.D.) kingdoms in addition to Koguryo, where claims have already been documented. The research center is in charge of the so-called Northeast Project.
It shouldn’t be a surprise that the Chinese are getting bolder in their claims considering the weak response to the Koguryo history controversy. It is only a matter of time before the Chinese claim that all of Korea was part of China due to its tributary status until the loss of the peninsula to the Japanese in the aftermath of the Sino-Japanese War.Â
I wonder if we can expect President Roh to declare diplomatic war against the Chinese anytime soon?
With the quick apology the Chinese received when a dance team proclaimed their stance on the Koguryo issue, I wonder how far of a stretch it would be for China to declare all of Korea a colony of China today as well.
Korea silence when it comes to China only hurts their credibility when it comes to anti-Japanese or even anti-American issues. Korea's only allies in the world get treated the worst, while her biggest threat is treated like a god.
So, what does this say about the 'Korean' psyche?
I've got to say that Peter P is exactly right. Koreans deserve to be treated better, but there is a delicious comeuppance they get for defecating on their friends.
I'm currently reading a book called the Diamond Dilema that focuses mostly on the future of the Korean economy and the chaebols and the author makes the point as well that Koreans have too much of a worship mentality of China at the expense of alienating other allies especially the US. Koreans believe their worship mentality will cause the Chinese to give them favorable trade deals and preferential treatment.
The author through interviews with Chinese business leaders also makes the point that the Chinese don't give Korean companies any preferential treatment and actually respect and like doing business with Americans more than the Koreans.
The Korguryo issue which has now expanded to include Baekje and Shilla is a perfect of example of the lack of respect China has for Korea. I guess when they see how easily North Korea pushes them around why should they be any different?
By the way it is a good book so far that I will probably post a review on once I'm done reading it.
[…] for Mao Zedong 4 Richardson, Hamilton, James C. […] Asides » ROK Drop points to this Chosun Ilbo article on, “an official Chinese study that co-opts the early Korean […]