► South Korea, in addition to dealing with divided nation politics and a belligerent North Korea, faces a complex strategic landscape, especially because the United States is its security ally while China is its number-one trading partner.

► The opportunity costs of strained relations are increasing, and strategists in Beijing should be concerned that South Korean sentiments toward China have deteriorated. 

► Improving China-South Korea relations is less about what either government needs to do and more about making a strategic decision to stop the situation from getting worse. Progress in bilateral affairs is possible if both sides practice diplomatic prudence and restraint. 

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