Abstract
August 24, 1992, marked a historic turning point in China-South Korea relations when these two neighbors-bitter enemies in the Korean War-established full diplomatic relations, thus putting an end to their Cold War hostility. Seoul had wooed Beijing for diplomatic recognition for several years. What finally impelled Beijing to agree to this important step despite the unhappiness of North Korea, China's long-time communist friend? What benefits does China expect to get from its official ties with South Korea, and how did the international and its own domestic environment affect Chinese foreign policy behavior? This article explores these questions and suggests possible answers. After reviewing the vast literature on Chinese foreign policy behavior, Samuel Kim divided all possible explanations into three broad categories: domestic/societal, external/systemic, and domestic/external linkage factors.1 I have relied heavily on external/internal linkage to explain the incremental change in Beijing's policy toward Seoul.
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