This study takes China’s historical perception of the Korean War and its policy transformations since the Reform and Opening-Up as the central research topic, aiming to systematically clarify the mechanism and evolutionary logic through which nation...
This study takes China’s historical perception of the Korean War and its policy transformations since the Reform and Opening-Up as the central research topic, aiming to systematically clarify the mechanism and evolutionary logic through which national memory functions in the formation of foreign policy and security strategy. Grounded in an interdisciplinary perspective that integrates International Relations and historical political studies, the research adopts a comprehensive theoretical framework combining national memory theory, realism, alliance theory, and constructivism. By doing so, it provides an in-depth analysis of how China has reconstructed the narrative of the Korean War across different historical stages, and how the reproduction of this historical memory has influenced foreign policy adjustments and the formation of national identity. The ultimate goal of this study is to deepen the understanding of contemporary Chinese diplomatic thought and behavioral patterns in international relations by clarifying the interaction between national memory and policy change.
Methodologically, the study covers the period from 1978 to 2025, employing both bibliometric analysis using CiteSpace and qualitative discourse analysis. Primary sources include Chinese government documents, major state-run media such as the People’s Daily, academic papers, and visual-cultural materials, which were systematically collected and comparatively examined. In addition, semantic network analysis and discourse-structure analysis were conducted simultaneously to identify the trajectories of semantic transformation embedded in China’s Korean War narrative and reveal their political implications. The integration of quantitative and qualitative approaches further enhanced the reliability and interpretive strength of the findings by cross-validating policy documents and public discourse.
The results of the study demonstrate that the Korean War is not merely a military conflict but a pivotal axis of national memory that has shaped the national identity, political legitimacy, and security strategy of the People’s Republic of China. In the 1950s, the “Resist America, Aid Korea; Defend the Homeland” narrative provided political legitimacy and social cohesion for the newly founded state by emphasizing the core values of national independence and collective sacrifice. After the Reform and Opening-Up, as the international order shifted, China–South Korea diplomatic normalization progressed, and globalization deepened, the war narrative transitioned from a confrontational memory to a more diversified narrative centered on peace and development. In the 21st century, however, the intensification of U.S.–China strategic competition and the increasingly complex security environment in Northeast Asia led to the renewed strengthening of the “Resist America, Aid Korea” national memory, which was re-endowed with realistic functions related to sovereignty protection, security defense, and national dignity.
The study also reveals that the reconstruction of national memory and the adjustment of foreign policy interact dynamically. National memory is not a mere recollection of the past but a reinterpretation of historical experience and a key foundation for legitimizing contemporary policies. In China’s policy discourse, the narrative of “Resist America, Aid Korea” has undergone a discursive rebalancing—from emphasizing the “justness of the war” to highlighting “peace and development”—displaying both strategic awareness and narrative flexibility under the dual structure of international pressure and domestic development. This recontextualized memory has diffused into social institutionalization through various cultural channels, including policy language formation, public education, media content, and commemorative rituals, thereby producing a structure in which national identity, historical consciousness, and security strategy are closely interlinked.
Overall, the study confirms that the national memory of the Korean War occupies a structural position in China’s diplomatic strategy and security thinking. Its historical experience has exerted profound influence on policy judgments and strategic choices concerning major strategic issues such as the Taiwan question, the Korean Peninsula situation, and U.S.–China relations. Through processes of politicization and institutionalization, national memory provides strategic legitimacy and public support for the state, transforming historical narratives into ideological resources and psychological foundations for contemporary foreign policy. The conclusions of this study contribute to a deeper understanding of the mechanisms behind the political construction of national memory in China and offer new theoretical perspectives and methodological foundations for evaluating China’s behavioral logic within the context of global strategic competition and regional security governance.