Abstract
Current international opinions differ on what kind of power the newly rising China will become. One important factor to consider when analyzing a potential superpower is that a rising nation must exercise absolute influence in the following areas: economy, politics, diplomacy and military. With China’s modernization expected to be completed by 2050, it will nonetheless retain limited, relatively stable, quasi-superpower status by 2020. However, the possibility of China reaching the status of the internationally powerful U.S. remains low, although it will assume a powerful role in Asia. Therefore, Korea’s policy toward China must remain within the larger framework of Korea’s policy vis-a-vis the U.S. – through the ROK-US alliance. Korea must keep its strategic alliance with the U.S. as its top priority, but it will not need to follow divisive policies of choosing between the U.S. and China. Korea must also maintain friendly ties with China in order to maximize its national interests. Adapted from the source document.