China and South Korea confirmed Saturday they would establish diplomatic relations, formally ending four decades of hostility, and a spurned Taiwan responded by saying it would cut its ties with Seoul.
The first news came in brief statements from Beijing and Seoul announcing that South Korea's Foreign Minister Lee Sang-ock would leave for Beijing Sunday to discuss normalization of their relations.A South Korean foreign ministry source said Lee and his Chinese counterpart, Qian Qichen, would sign a protocol Monday at Beijing's Diaoyutai Guest House formally ending over four decades of Cold War hostility.
Taiwan's Foreign Minister Fredrick Chien immediately announced it would break relations with South Korea, Taipei's last formal diplomatic ally in Asia, when Seoul and Beijing establish ties.
Chien told a news conference that Taipei would also cancel all trade privileges extended to Seoul and suspend a bilateral agreement covering air links.
"The government of (South Korean President) Roh Tae-woo has violated our trust and trampled on international justice," a visibly angry Chien told reporters.
Taiwanese industry groups also demanded trade and travel boycotts of South Korea, but Chien urged them not to take "emotional actions."
Scores of Taiwanese protesters chanting "Korea - you have betrayed our trust!" hurled eggs at Seoul's embassy in Taipei and trampled South Korean flags underfoot.
For Seoul, diplomatic recognition from Beijing is a key toward eventual unification of the peninsula, a deeply emotional issue in South Korea that overrides concerns about an old ally.
China, which fought on North Korea's side in the 1950-53 Korean War, is a staunch ally of North Korea and Seoul is banking on Beijing to nudge Pyongyang toward detente.
South Korea was the only Asian nation to recognize Taiwan.