The Impact of South Korea's Alignment with the U.S.-Japan on China-South Korea Relations: An Empirical Analysis Using Statistical Analysis

The research question raised in this article is whether China-South Korea relations are affected by South Korea's relations with the U.S. and Japan. For instance, when South Korea deepens ties with both the U.S. and Japan, does China demonstrate negative behaviors toward South Korea? On the other hand, does South Korea increase its assertiveness toward China when it aligns closely with both the U.S. and Japan? Through the statistical analysis, the empirical findings reveal that China increases its assertiveness toward South Korea when the latter balances against it by strengthening ties with the U.S.-Japan. At the same time, establishing close ties with the U.S.-Japan emboldens South Korea to also act assertively toward China. The findings imply that China-South Korea relations are not just shaped by how the two states interact. Instead, a broader regional context should be taken into account when investigating how the bilateral relations unfold.