As South Korea seeks to balance its economic interests with China and its security alliance with the U.S., the bilateral meetings held on the sidelines of the trilateral ROK-Japan-China summit highlight the potential risks and opportunities associated with deepening ties with Beijing.

The resumption of the ROK-China Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Phase 2 negotiations and the revival of the ROK-China Investment Cooperation Committee demonstrate Seoul’s desire to expand economic collaboration with its largest trading partner.