{
  "id": 12295292,
  "title": "'China has never asked Seoul to choose a side between Beijing, Washington,' envoy says",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/06/china-has-never-asked-seoul-to-choose-a-side-between-beijing",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-06T04:07:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times-koreatimes",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/southkorea/politics/20261006/china-has-never-asked-seoul-to-choose-a-side-between-beijing-washington-envoy-says"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In a recent interview, Chinese Ambassador to Korea Dai Bing emphasized that Seoul does not need to choose between the United States and China, stating that maintaining relations with both countries serves Korea's national interests. Dai made these remarks while commenting on the growing competition between the U.S. and China, which is now extending beyond diplomacy into technology and supply chains.\n\nAmbassador Dai stated in an interview with The Korea Times in Seoul on September 29 that China has never asked Korea to side with either the United States or China. He expressed hope that Korea will pursue sound relations with both nations, guided by its own fundamental national interests. Dai further urged that U.S.-China competition should not be the only lens through which the regional order in East Asia is viewed.\n\nDai emphasized that strategic autonomy does not mean abandoning Korea's alliance with the U.S., reiterating that China respects this alliance relationship. He clarified that China's hope for Korea is to achieve genuine strategic autonomy, which he described as the country pursuing its own interests while maintaining parallel relations with both China and the United States.",
  "summary": "As competition between the United States and China increasingly extends from diplomacy to technology and supply chains, Seoul faces the challenge of managing ties with its security ally and one of its most important economic partners. Chinese Ambassador to Korea Dai Bing said Seoul does not need to choose between Washington and Beijing, saying maintaining relations with both countries serves…",
  "key_points": [
    "Chinese Ambassador Dai Bing states Seoul doesn't need to choose between U.S. and China.",
    "Ambassador Dai hopes Korea maintains sound relations with both nations.",
    "China hopes Korea achieves strategic autonomy while respecting U.S. alliance."
  ],
  "editors_take": "China's envoy to Seoul signals that South Korea can maintain its alliance with the US while also pursuing parallel relations with China, aligning with Korea's national interests.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "'China has never asked Seoul to choose a side between Beijing, Washington,' envoy says",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/06/china-has-never-asked-seoul-to-choose-a-side-between-beijing-12298827",
        "published": "2026-10-06T04:32:04.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Yonhap News",
        "title": "Seoul sent US$2.4 bln to Washington for Texas energy project: finance minister",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/06/seoul-sent-us-2-4-bln-to-washington-for-texas-energy-project-finance",
        "published": "2026-10-06T04:50:26.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}