The chinese perspectives of the korean unification: Evidence from the chinese academic publications*

What are the Chinese perspectives on Korean unification, and what are the concerns and expectations? The English-language literature on this subject lacks citations from primary sources to claim a wide survey of Chinese perspectives. Based upon the 62 Chinese journal articles and 29 expert commentaries in Chinese, I infer a broad spectrum of Chinese thinking on the Korea unification. I find that the Chinese analysts have contemplated a relatively more moderate approach to managing the Korean unification process with the US than often assumed outside China. In this context, I argue that there is a room for negotiation to enhance the crisis-management mechanism with China on the affairs of Korean unification. This article contributes to broadening the extant body of knowledge on the China-Korean Peninsula relations by identifying the breadth of the Chinese views on the Korean unification.