The Chinese Ambassador to Korea, Wu Dawei said in regards to the North Korean refugees matter on Thursday, "that at a stage where the inter-Korean relations are improving, it is better not to deal with such sensitive matters if possible." Ambassador Wu revealed such position during a question and answer session he had after giving a lecture on "Korea-China Relations Since the Inter-Korean Summit" at the invitation of the Korea Press Foundation.
This is the first time China revealed its position on the North Korean refugees problem since the North and South Korean Summit Meeting between President Kim Dae-jung and North Korea's leader Kim Jong Il between June 12 through 15 this year. The Chinese Ambassador claimed "Over the past, North Koreans who fled their countries to China received good treatment [in China]" and added saying the number of such North Koreans in China reaches several hundred thousand made him speechless and was a groundless supposition.
Then, speaking of the Tibetan leader Dalai Lama's visit to Korea, Ambassador Wu emphasized, "Dalai Lama left China and during the last 40 years since 1959 the only action he has taken has been to try and make Tibet independent, so to such person the Chinese government has only one view, in short that of opposing him."
Speaking on the matter of re-opening airline routes between South Korea and Taiwan, Ambassador Wu professed "The Chinese government does not oppose private and regional exchanges between Korea and Taiwan but if the Korea-Taiwan direct line is to be revived, [Korea] will need to discuss the matter with China in advance.
(Lee Ha-won, may2@chosun.com)
