Line Mørch | Yonsei University (original) (raw)
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Papers by Line Mørch
Yonsei Journal of International Studies, 2019
Despite Chinese claims to not have enforced any sanctions against South Korean economic activitie... more Despite Chinese claims to not have enforced any sanctions against South Korean economic activities in Mainland China following the installation of the THAAD system in 2016, it quickly became evident that the Chinese government was making conscious efforts to hinder economic endeavors by Korean entrepreneurs and companies in China. This paper utilizes economic sanctions theory in order to investigate the covert nature of the Chinese government’s attempts at punishing South Korean businesses for political initiatives undertaken by the Korean government. The first part of the paper introduces the literature on economic sanctions theory and its utility in the Chinese context, and proceeds to account for the political events leading up to and following the deployment of the THAAD system in South Korea. It aims to emphasize Chinese reactions to the rationales and actions of the South Korean government, using primary sources and statements made by Chinese officials involved in the matter. The second part of the paper consists of a case study of Korean pop manufacturer SM Entertainment, in which the THAAD deployment’s effects on SM Entertainment’s activities in Mainland China will be accounted for. This part presents data, which argues that SM Entertainment was not observably affected by the crisis, but that it made deliberate efforts to redirect its activities to Japan following the THAAD deployment in response to severe restrictions on Korean popular culture products in China. Findings reveal that the Chinese government not only has a significant history of enforcing covert sanctions against sovereign nations in response to political decisions made by their governments, but also that it is highly likely to continue this form of punishment in an attempt to influence foreign politics without running the risk of military escalation or further conflict.
Yonsei Journal of International Studies, 2019
Despite Chinese claims to not have enforced any sanctions against South Korean economic activitie... more Despite Chinese claims to not have enforced any sanctions against South Korean economic activities in Mainland China following the installation of the THAAD system in 2016, it quickly became evident that the Chinese government was making conscious efforts to hinder economic endeavors by Korean entrepreneurs and companies in China. This paper utilizes economic sanctions theory in order to investigate the covert nature of the Chinese government’s attempts at punishing South Korean businesses for political initiatives undertaken by the Korean government. The first part of the paper introduces the literature on economic sanctions theory and its utility in the Chinese context, and proceeds to account for the political events leading up to and following the deployment of the THAAD system in South Korea. It aims to emphasize Chinese reactions to the rationales and actions of the South Korean government, using primary sources and statements made by Chinese officials involved in the matter. The second part of the paper consists of a case study of Korean pop manufacturer SM Entertainment, in which the THAAD deployment’s effects on SM Entertainment’s activities in Mainland China will be accounted for. This part presents data, which argues that SM Entertainment was not observably affected by the crisis, but that it made deliberate efforts to redirect its activities to Japan following the THAAD deployment in response to severe restrictions on Korean popular culture products in China. Findings reveal that the Chinese government not only has a significant history of enforcing covert sanctions against sovereign nations in response to political decisions made by their governments, but also that it is highly likely to continue this form of punishment in an attempt to influence foreign politics without running the risk of military escalation or further conflict.