중국의 대내외 전략과 동북공정

China s Domestic and Foreign Strategies and the Northeastern Project : Current Realities and the Korean Response

한·중관계는 1992년 수교 이후 외교·통상·인적교류 등 다양한 영역에서 양적, 질적인 발전을 이루어 왔다. 그런데, 최근 중국이 동북공적(東北工程）을 실시하면서, 한·중간에는 외교적 갈등이 노정되고 있다. 왜 중국은 양국 관계가 수교 이래 가장 최고로 정점에 있고, 전면적인 협력적 동반자관계로 발전하고 있는 이 시점에 ‘동북공정’을 진행하고 있는가? 본 글의 목적은 최근 중국의 동북공정을 통한 ‘고구려사 왜곡’, 그로 인한 한·중간 갈등, 중국 대내외전략의 변화를 분석함으로써 동북공정 추진 배경을 논의하고, 그에 대한 대응책 제시를 통해, 수교 12주년을 맞은 한·중관계를 재조명해 보고자 한다. 동북공정의 추진배경은 정치사회적 측면에서, ‘통일적 다민족국가’ 유지와 동북변경지역 조선족사회 통제를 위한 것으로, 경제적 측면에서는, ‘동북3성 진흥 계획’을 위한 안정적 토대 구축을 위한 것이며, 외교안보 측면에서는, 영토문제 불식 및 동북아 패권국가로 부상하기 위한 교두보를 삼기 위한 것으로 추정해 볼 수 있다. 이에 대해서는 장기적인 대응방안이 모색되어야 하는데, 특히 첫째, 고구려사에 대한 체계적인 연구와 남북한 및 국제공조가 필요하며, 둘째, 간도 영유권문제 인식과 간도연구의 활성화가 필요하고, 셋째, 조선족문제에 대한 신중한 접근이 필요하다.

Since normalization of diplomatic ties in 1992, Korea-China relations has made important quantitative and qualitative progress in the areas of diplomacy, trade, and human exchange. Recently, however, as China implemented its Northeastern Project, conflict has surfaced in the Korea-China relationship. Why is China pushing its Northeastern Project at a time when relations between the two countries is at its highest point since normalization of ties and is moreover developing into a cooperative companionship? The purpose of the present study is to shed new light on Korea-China relations as we celebrate the twelfth anniversary of normalization of ties between the two countries, by discussing the background of China’s pursuit of its Northeastern Project and suggesting what Korea’s response should be. This is, in turn, done by analyzing the misconstruction of Kokuryeo history by China’s latest Northeastern Project and the resulting conflict between Korea and China, as well as the changing foreign and domestic strategies of China. The background of the Northeastern Project can be understood from many different perspectives. From a socio-political perspective, the goal of the Project is to maintain a “unified multi-ethnic nation” and control the Korean-Chinese in the far northeast; from an economic perspective, it is to secure stable foundations for China’s Three Northeastern Provinces Development Plan; and from the perspective of security and foreign relations, the Project can be construed as an effort to wipe out territorial disputes and establish a beachhead for becoming the hegemon in Northeast Asia. In reaction to these efforts, Korea must launch long-term responses. First, a systematic study of Kokuryeo history is in order, as well as cooperation between North and South Korea, and among the global community. Second, the public needs to be made aware of the dispute over possession of Gando, and more research must be carried out on the issue. Third, Korea needs to more carefully and thoughtfully approach the issue of the Korean-Chinese.