Diplomatic Sparring Matches: A Look at China and South Korea's Taiwan Tango The exchange of formal protests between Beijing and Seoul over the sensitive Taiwan question and Korean unity has highlighted long standing tensions between two countries trying to improve their relationship.
The spat is a stark reminder that national sovereignty remains a highly charged issue, even in an era of supposed global interconnectedness.
South Korea's objection to China's official statement welcoming moves towards the "peaceful coexistence of the two states of South and North Korea" is consistent with its stance on reunification.