In Person

Reassessing the Strategic Value of China to Korea

May 13, 2026 • 9:00 am – 1:30 pm EDT

Brought to you by

Korea Chair

With new administrations in Washington and Seoul, and discussion of finding a common approach to China, it is time for a bottom-up evaluation of China's strategic value to South Korea. South Korea cannot properly respond to U.S. policies toward China without a serious and comprehensive reevaluation of its relationship with its neighbor.

For decades, Seoul has navigated a careful balance: a security alliance with the United States, a deep economic relationship with China, and a shared interest with both in managing North Korea. That balance is under strain. U.S.–China competition has hardened. Beijing's leverage over Pyongyang has not delivered the restraint Seoul once hoped for. And Taiwan looms as a contingency that could force choices South Korea has long preferred to defer.

This conference brings together leading experts to examine three questions at the center of that debate:

  1. What is China's strategic value to South Korea?
  2. What should Korea's role be in a Taiwan conflict?
  3. Has China been helpful on North Korea?


This event is co-hosted by CSIS and the Korea Foundation. 

Welcoming Remarks

9:00 am

Victor Cha, President, Geopolitics and Foreign Policy Department, and Korea Chair, CSIS

Panel 1: Reassessing the Strategic Value of China to South Korea

9:05 am

Speakers
Victor Cha, President, Geopolitics and Foreign Policy Department, and Korea Chair, CSIS
Mark Lambert, Former China Coordinator and Deputy Assistant Secretary for China and Taiwan, U.S. Department of State 

Discussants
Seong-Hyon Lee, Senior Fellow, George H.W. Bush Foundation for U.S.-China Relations
Joseph Yun, Former Chargé d’Affaires ad interim, U.S. Embassy Seoul; Former U.S. Special Presidential Envoy, Former U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Policy, U.S. Department of State 
 

Moderator: 
Scott Snyder, President and CEO, Korea Economic Institute of America

Break

10:20 am

Panel 2: What Should Be Korea’s Role in a Taiwan Conflict?

10:30 am

Speakers
Mark Cancian, Senior Adviser, Defense and Security Department, CSIS
Sungmin Cho, Associate Professor, Sungkyunkwan University

Discussants
Jason Hsu, Senior Fellow, Hudson Institute; Former Legislator-at-Large, Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan
Andrew Yeo, Senior Fellow and SK-Korea Foundation Chair, Brookings Institution; Professor of Politics, The Catholic University of America 

Moderator: 
Henrietta Levin, Senior Fellow, Freeman Chair in China Studies, CSIS; Former China Coordinator for Global Affairs, U.S. Department of State; Former Director for China, National Security Council

Lunch Break

11:45 am

Panel 3: Has China Been Helpful on North Korea?

12:00 pm

Speakers
Jung Pak, Distinguished Associate Fellow, Centre for Security, Diplomacy, and Strategy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel; Former U.S. Senior Official for the DPRK and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Multilateral Affairs, U.S. Department of State
Patricia Kim, Senior Fellow, John L. Thornton China Center and Center for Asia Policy Studies, Brookings Institution

Discussants
Sungmin Cho, Associate Professor, Sungkyunkwan University
Rush Doshi,  C.V. Starr senior fellow for Asia studies and Director, China Strategy Initiative, CFR; Former Deputy Senior Director for China and Taiwan, National Security Council

Moderator: 
Sydney Seiler, Senior Adviser (non-resident), Korea Chair, CSIS; National Intelligence Officer for North Korea, National Intelligence Council; Former U.S Special Envoy for Six Party Talks

Closing Remarks

1:15 pm

Tags

China, Korea, Asia, Defense and Security, Defense Strategy and Capabilities, and Geopolitics and International Security

Hosted By

Contact Information

Victor Cha

Victor Cha

President, Geopolitics and Foreign Policy Department and Korea Chair

Programs & Projects

Speakers

Victor Cha

Victor Cha

President, Geopolitics and Foreign Policy Department and Korea Chair
Mark Lambert

Mark Lambert

Former China Coordinator and Deputy Assistant Secretary for China and Taiwan, U.S. Department
Hyon

Seong-Hyon Lee

Senior Fellow, George H.W. Bush Foundation for U.S.-China Relations
Joseph Yun

Joseph Yun

Former Chargé d’Affaires ad interim, U.S. Embassy Seoul; Former U.S. Special Presidential Envoy, Former U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Policy, U.S. Department of State
Sungmin Cho,

Sungmin Cho

Associate Professor, Sungkyunkwan University
Jason Hsu

Jason Hsu

Senior Fellow, Hudson Institute; Former Legislator-at-Large, Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan
Andrew Yeo

Andrew Yeo

Senior Fellow and SK-Korea Foundation Chair, Brookings Institution; Professor of Politics, The Catholic University of America
Jung Pak

Jung Pak

Distinguished Associate Fellow, Centre for Security, Diplomacy, and Strategy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel; Former U.S. Senior Official for the DPRK and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Multilateral Affairs, U.S. Department of State
Patricia M. Kim

Patricia Kim

Senior Fellow, John L. Thornton China Center and Center for Asia Policy Studies, Brookings Institution
Scott Snyder

Scott Snyder

President and CEO, Korea Economic Institute of America
Rush Doshi

Rush Doshi

C.V. Starr senior fellow for Asia studies and Director, China Strategy Initiative, CFR; Former Deputy Senior Director for China and Taiwan, National Security Council
May 13, 2026 • 9:00 am – 1:30 pm EDT
Reassessing the Strategic Value of China to Korea
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