Question: Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine there is speculation that China will invade Taiwan. Against this backdrop the United States has expressed its willingness to work with South Korea to resolve the Taiwan issue. South Korea’s previous leadership chose a balanced approach to both the United States and China focusing on improving relations with North Korea. However, after the war in Ukraine, South Korea’s current leadership changed its diplomatic course to strengthen the U.S.-South Korea alliance and improve relations between South Korea and Japan. Views on this change are divided among political parties and the public. Why would China want to invade Taiwan and what is the probability of a Chinese invasion? If China invades Taiwan, what is the likelihood of U.S. intervention? What are the options for South Korea where U.S. troops are stationed? How will China try to influence North Korea in this case and how will South Korea’s choices in this situation affect the future reunification of North and South Korea? I’d like to know what inner cross South Korean students need to let go of in order to have a neutral perspective in this international situation.
Answer from the Ascended Master Saint Germain through Kim Michaels. This answer was given during the 2023 Korean Conference.
Well, as I have said in the previous answer, there is no guarantee, of course, that China will take this step because there are actually many, many people in the Chinese government who do not agree with Xi Jinping and his stance on Taiwan. There is deep division in China about taking a step that would be very dramatic given China’s history. And there are those who, even though they think that Taiwan should be a part of China, are saying that going to war would be far too dangerous and really an un-Chinese step to take. It is by no means a given that Xi Jinping and those who support his policy will actually be able to take the nation to this very drastic step.
Naturally if they were to attempt an invasion, I am not saying they would invade, I am saying they would attempt to invade, then the current United States administration would feel obligated to somehow come to the aid of Taiwan, even militarily. This could change with a different administration such as a Republican administration that might take a more isolationist U.S. policy.
I am not saying that this is what I would like to see happen, I am just stating the possibilities. I agree that it is best for South Korea to remain as neutral as possible. And it is most likely that the United States would not require South Korea to be pulled into any hostilities and that they would be very careful using bases in South Korea, partly because this would, of course, make South Korea vulnerable to an attack by the North who might take advantage of a Chinese invasion to do something against South Korea. The Chinese might even encourage this in order to distract U.S. attention from helping Taiwan. It is naturally best to remain neutral and to seek diplomatic means. But you have to be realistic and realize that if the leaders in China who want to take aggressive action against Taiwan are successful in pulling the nation into this, then there is no diplomatic solution, as there was no diplomatic solution that could have prevented Putin from invading Ukraine.
There is a limit to what democracy can do and what diplomacy can do when it comes from a democratic nation towards a dictatorial nation because the dictatorships by definition see democracy as a weaker form of government than their own government. You will see this as being universally true. Hitler saw the democratic nations as being weaker than himself. The Soviet Union saw the democratic nations as being weaker. Kim Jong-un sees South Korea as being a weaker form of government than his own. China sees democracy as weaker. It is universal around the globe. There is a limit to what diplomacy can achieve because the dictators do not think they need diplomacy because they think they have strength and aggression on their side.
But of course, there can be things achieved by diplomacy, but only if you come from a position of strength. That is why I do encourage South Korea to strengthen its ties with Japan—to put aside, as we have said before, the old animosities and realize that South Korea and Japan have common interests in many areas, both towards North Korea but certainly towards China and also Russia. And of course, this also entails strengthening ties with the United States because currently it would be difficult for South Korea and Japan to defend themselves from Chinese aggression. Whereas with an alliance with the United States, well the situation is different. You have to walk a very delicate balance of not directly threatening China, but on the other hand demonstrating strength so that China does not feel like they can get away with anything they want. I know this is a delicate balance, but it is a possible balance to walk.
Copyright © 2023 Kim Michaels