The new Xi Jinping era has opened in China as the National People’s Congress, the country’s largest annual political event, closed on March 17th. The congress is equivalent to South Korea’s National Assembly. At the plenary session on March 14th, China officially opened the 10-year era of Xi Jinping’s rule and inaugurated the fifth-generation leadership, following Mao Zedong, Deng Xiaoping, Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao. Xi Jinping had already been chosen as the general secretary of the Communist Party and chairman of the Central Military Commission at the 18th Communist Party Congress and the first plenum of the 18th Central Committee in November last year. On March 14th, the National People’s Congress elected Xi Jinping as the country’s next president, who took over leadership from his predecessor Hu Jintao. Accordingly, Xi Jinping has become China’s top leader, both in name and reality, to keep the party, the military and the government under control. Here’s Lee Tae-hwan, head of the China Research Center at the Sejong Institute, to explain what’s so special about this year’s National People’s Congress.

Hu Jintao did not assume the post of chairman of the Central Military Commission when his government was inaugurated. Unlike his predecessor Hu, Xi Jinping has started his term under a strong leadership because he controls the party, the government and the military. The National People’s Congress was called a mere rubber stamp in the past. But this time around, it saw a considerable number of opposing votes. Given this, the functions of the congress seem to have been intensified to some degree. This is considered a departure from the previous practice of a hundred percent endorsement of what had already been decided at the Communist Party Congress.

Xi Jinping’s political base is said to be much stronger than Hu Jintao’s. Former President Hu, unlike his predecessor Jiang Zemin, handed over both presidency and military reins to his successor Xi Jinping so Xi can be free from senior politicians’ behind-the-scenes interference. Meanwhile, Li Yuanchao, one of Hu Jintao’s close aides and a member of the Political Bureau of the party’s Central Committee, was elected vice president, while Li Keqiang was endorsed as premier, who will be in charge of economic and administrative affairs. The new premier is one of the leaders of the Communist Youth League faction. Unlike his predecessor Wen Jiabao, Li is No.2 in the ruling Communist Party hierarchy and an influential figure with a strong political base.

The previous Hu-Wen regime was not really the product of a compromise between the two representative political factions. In comparison, Xi Jinping represents the Shanghai faction or Princelings, while Li Keqiang belongs to the Communist Youth League faction led by Hu Jintao. That is, the new leadership is the product of a compromise between the two factions. Also worth noting, a lot of members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party’s Central Committee are from the Shanghai faction led by Xi. The Cabinet, on the other hand, is occupied by a number of people from the Communist Youth League faction, including Li Keqiang. So, the new leadership takes a balanced political arrangement into consideration.

So, how will China’s foreign policy change under the Xi Jinping leadership? The new leader stressed “a great revival of China” in his speech, and experts predict the country will reinforce a strong sense of nationalism. Unlike in the past, Beijing is expected to push for a bolder and stronger diplomacy. Attention swings to how the so-called “great power diplomacy” advocated by China may influence the diplomatic situation in Northeast Asia and on the Korean Peninsula.

The opening of the Xi Jinping era could be a huge challenge to us. But we may also have unprecedentedly high expectations for the new Chinese leadership. The world is faced with a major shift in global order, and the Xi Jinping regime is entrusted with a grave, historic mission to cope with it. China will now have to define its role in settling peace in Northeast Asia, including the Korean Peninsula. Regarding U.S. relations, China is expected to compete with the U.S. on a more equal footing under the slogan of a new relationship between the two powers. The role South Korea will play between China and the U.S. and what policies it will adopt will be important to make the most of this opportunity. This will greatly influence the future and order on the Korean Peninsula, especially the North Korean nuclear issue and the unification of Korea.

Beijing seems to be keeping its distance from Pyongyang in the wake of North Korea’s long-range rocket launch, its third nuclear test, and the U.N. Security Council’s sanctions against the North. Against this backdrop, experts say the two countries may re-establish their bilateral relations. Having reiterated its will to “join” the U.N. Security Council’s Resolution 2094 calling for sanctions against North Korea, China has tightened customs inspections between the two countries in the border areas and also banned customary illegal transactions of North Korean banks in China. This is clearly different from China’s previous attitude. But Mr. Lee says China will not rush to change its North Korea policy.

Even within China, more and more people appear to believe that China cannot side with North Korea forever, as it did in the past, and that it should boldly put a brake on Pyongyang. It’s true that China feels like North Korea stabbed the newly launched Xi Jinping government in the back. It comes as no surprise that China is holding a grudge against its communist ally because North Korea went ahead with its missile launch and nuclear test even though China wanted the North to wait or delay the move. Beijing is expected to manage or tame North Korea more thoroughly down the road. It’s too early to predict that China will do an about-turn over its North Korea policy and go in the completely different direction. I think China will coordinate details and come up with various means to deal with North Korea.

China is also paying attention to the new South Korean government’s North Korea policy. Around the time Park Geun-hye was inaugurated as president in South Korea, China’s official Xinhua News Agency asked Seoul not to let go of momentum for dialogue with Pyongyang. President Park sent a congratulatory message to Xi Jinping when he was elected, delivering her hope to solidify the strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries, and strengthen cooperation for peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula, in Northeast Asia, and throughout the entire world. Experts agree that now is time to set the direction of the two countries’ North Korea policy.

China thinks that the current South Korea-China relations are more important than ever before. Amid the rapidly changing world situation, relations with South Korea are definitely important for China. With North Korea taking provocative actions of late, Beijing may think that it will be difficult to address the Korean Peninsula issues with the previous relations with South Korea. That’s why China is seeking to strengthen ties with Seoul while asking it to approach inter-Korean relations in a more flexible way. South Korea, for its part, needs to make more efforts to build trust with China and establish a system where the two countries can lead North Korea-related issues preemptively.

Now attention turns to how the Xi Jinping regime will unfold its Korean Peninsula policy centered on the North Korean nuclear issue. Here’s hoping that the new Chinese government will carry out diplomacy of peace and prosperity.


[Interview] Defectors Set up Alternative School for N. Korean Children
A student learns mathematics from his teacher through one-on-one tutoring in “Geumgang School,” located in Gaebong-dong, Guro District in Seoul. This is a place for learning for children of North Korean defectors. The alternative school offers various classes in which North Korean students are willing to participate. Students love music class, among others, because they can enjoy the class freely. Geumgang School opened in January this year. Students here are mostly North Korean children who were born in third world countries or grew up in China after their parents escaped from North Korea. As they couldn’t get proper education in that process, they are rather poor at the standard South Korean language. School principal Ju Myeong-hwa says the school has a dormitory because many of their parents have jobs in local provinces.

This school helps students from North Korea and children who were born in third world countries enter ordinary schools without difficulty and rediscover their identity. We also help children with psychological problems refine their emotions. For parents who are too busy to take care of their children, we run a dormitory around the clock. It hasn’t been very long since the school was created. Teachers who were former North Korean defectors made a united effort to raise money and set up the school in January 2013.

Currently, a total of 14 students between the ages of seven and 13 learn various subjects, including the Korean language, mathematics, social studies, English, music and physical training, for free. Three teachers, including the principal, and volunteers, teach the students. The school plans to offer experience programs where students visit banks, public offices and museums once a month, in order to help them better adapt to South Korean society. It will also provide psychotherapy to children with emotional problems.

We teach them basic subjects that are usually taught in ordinary schools. Plus, students here learn the basic Korean language and how to build friendships and discover their true identity. Art class is taught by a volunteer teacher. The teacher will also offer psychotherapy. Some students are emotionally unstable because they hid out in unknown places for a long time after escaping North Korea. I can immediately recognize these unstable children. It’s important to study, of course, but it’s also very important for the children to regain psychological stability. For students living in a dorm, in particular, it’s absolutely necessary to show consideration to their friends, make a concession to them and understand them.

Ms. Ju was a North Korean defector herself. She came to South Korea in 2008. She worked as a teacher in North Korea for 15 years, but she didn’t really intend to become a teacher here in South Korea from the beginning. At first, she taught students after class, as she wanted to help North Korean children by using her career. But she soon felt the need to teach students more systematically. That’s why she opened this school. She uses the term “steppingstone education” to describe the goal of the school.

A steppingstone can be expressed as a base for a take-off. Here, we provide basic education to help the students enter ordinary schools. I would define it as “steppingstone education.” We teach the Korean language and math to children who have never attended school before. With this basic knowledge, they can hopefully understand teachers and talk with their peers at ordinary schools later.

After studying at Geumgang School, some students were actually admitted to a nearby elementary school after taking the test there. At Geumgang, children are happy because they can attend school as they had always dreamed and mingle with their friends as well. Here, they no longer live lonely, even though both of their parents are working. They can share life’s small moments of happiness.

…I was alone at home because my parents were working. I had nothing to do at home and just felt very bored. But here, it’s very fun to play with friends. I will study hard to make the principal laugh a lot.

…It’s fun to study in school. At home, I had no friends and I was bored all day. But I’m glad to make many friends here. It’s fun to play hide-and-seek with friends.

Through her school, Ms. Ju hopes to nurture the North Korean children as decent South Korean citizens. We believe her teaching will serve as a steppingstone for North Korean students to resettle in South Korean society in a good way.