AKD Govt. reaffirms Sri Lanka’s ‘One China Policy’

By  KEN MORITSUGU and BHARATHA MALLAWARACHI

Updated 12:45 PM GMT, January 15, 2025

BEIJING (AP) — Sri Lanka and China signed a series of cooperation agreements on Wednesday following talks between their leaders, one month after Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake made India his first overseas trip since winning election last September.

The support of the two regional powerhouses — and rivals — is crucial for Sri Lanka to emerge from its worst economic crisis in decades, which led to political upheaval and paved the way for Dissanayake to come to power.

China was once seen as having the upper hand in Sri Lanka through its huge loans and infrastructure investments. While China remains the country’s largest bilateral lender, Sri Lanka’s economic collapse provided an opening for India, which stepped in with massive financial and material assistance including food, fuel and medicines.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping, in opening remarks to Dissanayake, said that relations between their countries are at a historical juncture.

“I am willing to work with you, Mr. President, to chart a new vision for the development of bilateral relations and promote new and greater achievements in China-Sri Lanka friendly cooperation,” Xi said.

Sri Lanka borrowed heavily from China over the past decade for projects including a shipping port, airport and a city being built on reclaimed land. The projects failed to earn enough revenue to pay off the loans, and Sri Lanka leased the port in Hambantota to a state-owned Chinese company in 2017.

Dissanayake said China remains a key partner that has supported important development under its Belt and Road Initiative, a signature policy of Xi to construct roads, ports, power plants and other infrastructure overseas. The initiative has helped China deepen its ties in much of the developing world.

For years, China has been trying to expand its influence in Sri Lanka, an island off India’s southeast coast that the government in New Delhi considers part of its strategic backyard. The Indian navy launched a submarine and two warships at a state-run shipyard on Wednesday with an eye on China’s presence in the Indian Ocean.

Marxist-leaning Dissanayake’s visit to the Chinese capital can be seen as an effort to navigate the rivalry between India and China, which his party traditionally has leaned toward.

In New Delhi last month, Dissanayake met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said he would not allow Sri Lanka to be used in “a manner that is detrimental to the interest of India.”

The agreements between Sri Lanka and China covered a range of areas, including economic and technological development, health inspections for food imports and TV broadcasting and other media cooperation.

Sri Lanka declared bankruptcy in April 2022 and suspended payments on $83 billion in domestic and foreign loans as a foreign exchange crisis led to severe shortages of food, medicine, fuel and cooking gas, along with hourslong power cuts.

China’s support is vital for Sri Lanka to restructure its external debt. China accounts for about 10% of Sri Lanka’s loans, more than Japan or the Asian Development Bank.

The country’s crisis was largely the result of economic mismanagement combined with the COVID-19 pandemic, which along with terrorist attacks in 2019 devastated its tourism industry. The pandemic also disrupted the flow of money sent home by Sri Lankans working abroad.

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சீனப் பயணத்துக்கு ஒரு வாரம் முன் அநுரா ஆட்சி முடிவெடுத்து அறிவித்த விடயங்கள்:

‘Taiwan is only a province of China,’ affirms Sri Lanka

The cabinet reaffirmed Colombo's commitment to the 'One China Policy' ahead of  Dissanayake's visit to Beijing

Jan 8, 2025 Tamil Guardian

The Sri Lankan government re-affirmed its support for the ‘One China Policy’ in a cabinet decision this week, ahead of Sri Lankan president Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s visit to China next week.

Sri Lanka’s cabinet agreed to the proposal put forward by foreign affairs minister Vijitha Herath to continue abiding by the policy, a move thought to be a gesture that will strengthen bilateral ties between Beijing and Colombo.

“It is accepted that legitimate China is only the People’s Republic of China and, Thaiwan is only a province of China,” read the Sri Lankan decision.

In addition, the cabinet approved signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the China Media Group and the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB).

Cabinet Spokesman and Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said it was one of multiple MoUs between Sri Lankan and Chinese institutions that were approved* this week.

These include; 

1) MoU between the Health and Mass Media Ministry and the National Radio and Television Administration (NRTA) of the People’s Republic of China
2) MoU between the Associated Newspapers Ceylon Ltd., and Xinhua News Agency of China
3) Memorandum of Cooperation between the Department of Government Information and Xinhua News Agency of China
4) MoU between Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation and China Media Group
5) MoU between Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation and China Media Group

Cabinet Spokesman
and Minister
Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa

 

AKD Govt. reaffirms Sri Lanka’s ‘One China Policy’*

• Cabinet green lights multiple key agreements with China including boosting tourism and export of chicken meat from Sri Lanka

Wednesday, 8 January 2025 Daily FT

Sri Lanka this week reiterated commitment to the ‘One China Policy’, whilst Cabinet of Ministers approved a series of new agreements with China.

The Cabinet of Ministers on Monday approved the continuation of ‘One China Policy’ recognition of the People’s Republic of China as the sole legitimate Government of China and acknowledging Taiwan is only a province of China.

The fact furnished by the Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Minister Vijitha Herath indicating that Sri Lanka further follows the same policy as it is and act adhering to the same was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

In addition, as part of strengthening bilateral relations, the Cabinet of Ministers approved signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the China Media Group and the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB).

Cabinet Spokesman and Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa yesterday announcing the decisions said the move aims to elevate Sri Lanka as a premier tourist destination for Chinese tourists by leveraging modern technology and expertise of the China Media Group.

Speaking at the weekly post-Cabinet meeting media briefing, he said additionally the Cabinet endorsed a proposal to facilitate the export of chicken from Sri Lanka to China. 

“The agreement drafted in collaboration with China’s General Administration of Customs, outlines health requirements and quarantine procedures to ensure compliance with export standards,” Dr. Jayatissa said.

The proposal to this effect submitted by Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation Minister Lal Kantha to sign the said agreement between the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China and the Ministry was unanimously approved by the Cabinet of Ministers on Monday.

In humanitarian efforts, Dr. Jayatissa stated that the Chinese Government has provided emergency aid worth 35.7 million Yuan to support small-scale fishermen in Northern and Eastern Provinces and the Cabinet of Ministers formally certify this aid and further enhance cooperation in the sector.

The assistance includes 75,000 fisheries nets for small scale and low income generating fishermen, 500 precast houses for small scale and low income generating fishermen and 1,630 tons of rice for small scale and low income generating fishermen.

In addition, Dr. Jayatissa said Cabinet granted approval for multiple MoUs between Sri Lankan and Chinese institutions to foster collaboration in health, media and information sectors.

These include; 1) MoU between the Health and Mass Media Ministry and the National Radio and Television Administration (NRTA) of the People’s Republic of China, 2) MoU between the Associated Newspapers Ceylon Ltd., and Xinhua News Agency of China, 3) Memorandum of Cooperation between the Department of Government Information and Xinhua News Agency of China, 4) MoU between Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation and China Media Group and 5) MoU between Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation and China Media Group.

The proposal to this effect submitted by Health and Mass Media Minister Dr. Jayatissa said the pact aims to enhance knowledge exchange and technical expertise.⍐

Xi holds talks with Sri Lankan President in Beijing

 

Xi holds talks with Sri Lankan President in Beijing

By Deng Xiaoci, Shen Sheng and Zhang Yuying Published: Jan 15, 2025 

China will actively support Sri Lanka in focusing on economic development and the two countries should jointly foster new highlights in high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, as well as cooperation in modern agriculture, digital economy and marine economy, Chinese President Xi Jinping said Wednesday, Xinhua News Agency reported.

China's efforts in further deepening reform comprehensively to advance Chinese modernization will bring new opportunities for Sri Lanka's development, Xi said when holding talks with Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who is in China for a state visit.

Noting that China and Sri Lanka enjoy a traditional friendship, Xi said bilateral relations have maintained healthy and stable development over the past 68 years, setting an example of friendly coexistence and mutually beneficial cooperation between different countries.

With joint efforts, China and Sri Lanka have continuously promoted strategic cooperative partnership featuring mutual assistance and ever-lasting friendship. High-quality Belt and Road cooperation and cooperation in various fields have achieved fruitful results, bringing tangible benefits to the two peoples, Xi said.

The two countries should have a keen grasp of bilateral relations from a strategic perspective and jointly build a China-Sri Lanka community with a shared future, he said.

Dissanayake kicked off a four-day state visit to China on Tuesday, according to Sri Lanka local media Sunday Times. This marks the leader's first visit to China after taking office. 

China and Sri Lanka have long been each other's friend and close neighbor. Since our two countries established diplomatic ties in 1957, the bilateral relationship has stood the test of the changing international landscape, always maintained sound and steady growth, and set up a fine example of friendly relations and mutually beneficial cooperation between countries different in size, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun briefed on January 10. 

China stands ready to work with Sri Lanka through the upcoming visit to carry forward our time-honored friendship, deepen political mutual trust, and expand high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and practical cooperation in various fields for continuous new progress in advancing the China-Sri Lanka strategic cooperative partnership featuring sincerity, mutual support and ever-lasting friendship as well as more benefit for the two peoples, the spokesperson also said. 

'New heights' for ties  

Luo Zhaohui, Director of the China International Development Cooperation Agency, and  Vijitha Herath, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism of Sri Lanka, signed on Wednesday several cooperation documents, including intergovernmental economic and technical cooperation agreement, and MoU on strengthening cooperation in social and livelihood development.

Sri Lankan president's visit will undoubtedly further promote bilateral exchanges and policy coordination between China and Sri Lanka, laying a crucial foundation for future cooperation and the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Long Xingchun, a professor from the School of International Relations at Sichuan International Studies University, told the Global Times.

After his election victory last year, Dissanayake's visit to China is his second foreign trip and his first visit to China. This visit can be seen as a continuation and deepening of the cooperation results achieved by previous governments, aiming to further elevate the China-Sri Lanka partnership to new heights, Qian Feng, director of the research department at the National Strategy Institute at Tsinghua University, told the Global Times.

Sri Lanka was one of the first countries to join the BRI, and the cooperation in infrastructure has greatly enhanced Sri Lanka's domestic infrastructure in the country, Qian said.

Sri Lanka is an important BRI partner country. Over the past decade, China has undertaken landmark projects in Sri Lanka, including Colombo Port City, Hambantota Port, highways, power plants and water conservancy infrastructure. These projects have significantly improved Sri Lanka's infrastructure, laying a solid foundation for its economic development.

Dissanayake took office when Sri Lanka faced grave economic difficulties. Tasks such as addressing external challenges, economic development, job creation and increasing fiscal revenue cannot be accomplished without cooperation with China as a major power. Therefore, cooperation under the BRI has become an increasingly important engine for the development of bilateral relations, injecting much-needed momentum for the South Asian country, Long said. 

China's growing influence in South Asian and Indian Ocean countries such as Sri Lanka is an inevitable outcome of global economic development and globalization. As sovereign nations, countries in South Asia need to develop diplomatic relations with various countries, including China, India, Japan and the US. The rise of China's influence in the region is a natural result of nations in the region expanding their relationships, Long noted.

Inevitable development 

Indian news outlet Firstpost in a lengthy article published on Wednesday wrote that "amid the growing Chinese influence in Sri Lanka, India has emerged as a strong counterbalance."  The Indian media's report accused that China's "aggressive economic tactics" will bring "critical implications for Sri Lanka's sovereignty and the stability of the broader region." 

Experts pointed out that India's wariness of China's presence in the Indian Ocean primarily stems from New Delhi's narrow geopolitical perspective where India views South Asia as its own sphere of influence and does not respect other countries' rights to develop friendly and cooperative relations with China. 

In an era of globalization, cooperation between South Asian and Indian Ocean countries and China is inevitable and beneficial to India as well. If India cannot move beyond its narrow geopolitical thinking, it will be difficult to advance the development of South Asia, Long said. 

"Sri Lanka and China have close economic, diplomatic and cultural exchanges," said Ruwan Ranasinghe, deputy minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism of Sri Lanka in a recent interview with Xinhua, stressing that high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and major projects between the two countries such as the Colombo Port City and Hambantota Port have provided important impetus for Sri Lanka's economic recovery and showcased a strong junction between the two sides."⍐ 

Qatar announces Gaza ceasefire

Qatar announces Gaza ceasefire

January 15, 2025 | 7:18 PM GMT

Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Qatar’s prime minister and foreign affairs minister, spoke on Jan. 15, as Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire.

       Israel and Hamas agree to ceasefire deal, including hostage release, Biden says

A hostage and ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel has been reached Wednesday following more than 15 months of extraordinary bloodshed and violence in Gaza, President Joe Biden said Wednesday. Implementation of the agreement is to start on Sunday, Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said at a news conference announcing the deal in Doha, the Qatari capital, where intense negotiations have taken place over the past several weeks.

The agreement, which requires ratification by a vote of Israel’s cabinet, follows an intense period of meetings and calls over the past several days, including by Biden to the leaders of Israel and mediating partners Qatar and Egypt. Steve Witkoff, President-elect Donald Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East, has also played an instrumental role, meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the weekend to express Trump’s interest in attaining a deal before his inauguration on Monday.

Draft of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal

There is a draft ceasefire deal for the Israel-Hamas war. Here are the terms — and tensions

Hamas has agreed to a draft of the ceasefire deal, two officials confirmed, but Israeli officials say details are still being worked out.

By  Associated Press 

Lee Keath, Samy Magdy 

Updated Jan. 14, 2025 

https://whyy.org/article

If the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal goes according to the current draft, then fighting will stop in Gaza for 42 days, and dozens of Israeli hostages and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners will be freed. In this first phase Israeli troops will pull back to the edges of Gaza, and many Palestinians will be able to return to what remains of their homes as stepped-up aid flows in.

The question is if the ceasefire will survive beyond that first phase.

That will depend on even more negotiations meant to begin within weeks. In those talks, Israel, Hamas, and the U.S, Egyptian and Qatari mediators will have to tackle the tough issue of how Gaza will be governed, with Israel demanding the elimination of Hamas.

Without a deal within those 42 days to begin the second phase, Israel could resume its campaign in Gaza to destroy Hamas – even as dozens of hostages remain in the militants’ hands.

Hamas has agreed to a draft of the ceasefire deal, two officials confirmed, but Israeli officials say details are still being worked out, meaning some terms could change, or the whole deal could even fall through. Here is a look at the plan and potential pitfalls in the draft seen by the Associated Press.

Swapping hostages for imprisoned Palestinians

During the first phase, Hamas is to release 33 hostages in exchange for the freeing of hundreds of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. By the end of the phase, all living women, children and older people held by the militants should be freed.

Some 100 hostages remain captive inside Gaza, a mix of civilians and soldiers, and the military believes at least a third them are dead.

On the first official day of the ceasefire, Hamas is to free three hostages, then another four on the seventh day. After that, it will make weekly releases.

Which hostages and how many Palestinians will be released is complicated. The 33 will include women, children and those over 50 — almost all civilians, but the deal also commits Hamas to free all living female soldiers. Hamas will release living hostages first, but if the living don’t complete the 33 number, bodies will be handed over. Not all hostages are held by Hamas, so getting other militant groups to hand them over could be an issue.

In exchange, Israel will free 30 Palestinian women, children or elderly for each living civilian hostage freed. For each female soldier freed, Israel will release 50 Palestinian prisoners, including 30 serving life sentences. In exchange for bodies handed over by Hamas, Israel will free all women and children it has detained from Gaza since the war began on Oct. 7, 2023.

Dozens of men, including soldiers, will remain captive in Gaza, pending the second phase.

Israeli pullbacks and the return of Palestinians

During the proposed deal’s first phase, Israeli troops are to pull back into a buffer zone about a kilometer (0.6 miles) wide inside Gaza along its borders with Israel.

That will allow displaced Palestinians to return to their homes, including in Gaza City and northern Gaza. With most of Gaza’s population driven into massive, squalid tent camps, Palestinians are desperate to get back to their homes, even though many were destroyed or heavily damaged by Israel’s campaign.

But there are complications. During the past year of negotiations, Israel has insisted it must control the movement of Palestinians to the north to ensure Hamas does not take weapons back into those areas.

Throughout the war, the Israeli military has severed the north from the rest of Gaza by holding the so-called Netzarim Corridor, a belt across the strip where troops cleared out the Palestinian population and set up bases. That allowed them to search people fleeing from the north into central Gaza and bar anyone trying to return.

The draft seen by the AP specifies that Israel is to leave the corridor. In the first week, troops would withdraw from the main north-south coastal road — Rasheed Street — which would open one route for Palestinians returning. By the 22nd day of the ceasefire, Israeli troops are to leave the entire corridor.

Still, as talks continued Tuesday, an Israeli official insisted the military will keep control of Netzarim and that Palestinians returning north would have to pass inspections there, though he declined to provide details. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss closed negotiations.

Working out those contradictions could bring frictions.

Throughout the first phase, Israel will retain control of the Philadelphi Corridor, the strip of territory along Gaza’s border with Egypt, including the Rafah Crossing. Hamas dropped demands that Israel pull out of this area.

Humanitarian aid

In the first phase, aid entry to Gaza is to be ramped up to hundreds of trucks a day of food, medicine, supplies and fuel to alleviate the humanitarian crisis. That is far more than Israel has allowed in throughout the war.

For months, aid groups have struggled to distribute to Palestinians even the trickle of aid entering Gaza because of Israeli military restrictions and rampant robberies of aid trucks by gangs. An end to fighting should alleviate that.

The need is great. Malnutrition and diseases are rampant among Palestinians, crammed into tents and short on food and clean water. Hospitals have been damaged and short of supplies. The draft deal specifies that equipment will be allowed in to build shelters for tens of thousands whose homes were destroyed and to rebuild infrastructure like electricity, sewage, communications and road systems.

But here, too, implementation could bring problems.

Even before the war, Israel has restricted entry of some equipment, arguing it could be used for military purposes by Hamas. Another Israeli official said arrangements are still being worked out over aid distribution and cleanup, but the plan is to prevent Hamas from having any role.

Further complicating matters, Israel’s government is still committed to its plan to ban UNRWA from operating and to cut all ties between the agency and the Israeli government. The UN agency is the major distributor of aid in Gaza and provides education, health and other basic services to millions of Palestinian refugees across the region, including in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

The second phase

If all of that works out, the sides must still tackle the second phase. Negotiations over it are to begin on Day 16 of the ceasefire.

Phase two’s broad outlines are laid out in the draft: All remaining hostages are to be released in return for a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and a “sustainable calm.”

But that seemingly basic exchange opens up much bigger issues.

Israel has said it will not agree to a complete withdrawal until Hamas’ military and political capabilities are eliminated and it cannot rearm — ensuring Hamas no longer runs Gaza. Hamas says it will not hand over the last hostages until Israel removes all troops from everywhere in Gaza.

So the negotiations will have to get both sides to agree to an alternative for governing Gaza. Effectively, Hamas has to agree to its own removal from power — something it has said it is willing to do, but it may seek to keep a hand in any future government, which Israel has vehemently rejected.

The draft agreement says a deal on the second phase must be worked out by the end of the first.

Pressure will be on both sides to reach a deal, but what happens if they don’t? It could go in many directions.

Hamas had wanted written guarantees that a ceasefire would continue as long as needed to agree on phase two. It has settled for verbal guarantees from the United States, Egypt and Qatar.

Israel, however, has given no assurances. So Israel could threaten new military action to pressure Hamas in the negotiations or could outright resume its military campaign, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has threatened.

Hamas and the mediators are betting the momentum from the first phase will make it difficult for him to do that. Relaunching the assault would risk losing the remaining hostages — infuriating many against Netanyahu — though stopping short of destroying Hamas will also anger key political partners.

The third phase

The third phase is likely to be less contentious: The bodies of remaining hostages would be returned in exchange for a 3- to 5-year reconstruction plan to be carried out in Gaza under international supervision.⍐

Sri Lankan President kicks off a four-day state visit to China

Sri Lankan President kicks off a four-day state visit to China, demonstrating ‘Rubber-Rice’ friendship: expert

By 

Liu Caiyu

Published: Jan 15, 2025Sri Lanka's President Anura Kumara Dissanayake kicked off a four-day state visit to China on Tuesday, according to Sri Lanka local media Sunday Times. This marks the leader's first visit to China after taking office. 
Upon his arrival, the President was accorded a ceremonial welcome by the Chinese military, and he was formally received by Chen Xiaodong, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs, the President's Media Division said.
During this state visit, Dissanayake is scheduled to participate in several key engagements, including field visits focused on technological and agricultural development, as well as initiatives aimed at poverty alleviation. The visit also includes high-level business meetings and discussions, Sunday Times reported on Tuesday.
China and Sri Lanka have long been each other's friend and close neighbor. Since our two countries established diplomatic ties in 1957, the bilateral relationship has stood the test of the changing international landscape, always maintained sound and steady growth, and set up a fine example of friendly relations and mutually beneficial cooperation between countries different in size, according to Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun on January 10. 
China stands ready to work with Sri Lanka through the upcoming visit to carry forward our time-honored friendship, deepen political mutual trust, and expand high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and practical cooperation in various fields for continuous new progress in advancing the China-Sri Lanka strategic cooperative partnership featuring sincerity, mutual support and ever-lasting friendship as well as more benefits for the two peoples, Guo said. 
Qian Feng, director of the research department at the National Strategy Institute at Tsinghua University, told the Global Times that Dissanayake is seeking more development opportunities through his visit to China. 
China and Sri Lanka are promoting traditional cooperation in infrastructure construction and agriculture, but there is also great room for cooperation in tourism, port city development under the Belt and Road Initiative and fisheries, Qian said.
The agenda includes key focus areas such as technology, agriculture and poverty alleviation. President Dissanayake is also scheduled to visit strategic facilities and participate in high-level business forums aimed at enhancing economic collaboration and investment opportunities, according to a notice released by Sri Lanka's Presidential Office on Monday. 
Dissanayake's visit to China demonstrates a firm "Rubber-Rice" friendship between China and Sri Lanka, Liu Zongyi, director of the Center for South Asia Studies at the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies, told the Global Times on Tuesday. 
Dissanayake's visit to China is being closely watched by Indian media. 
"After India, Sri Lanka's president heads to China for key diplomatic talks," according to a video segment on Indian TV station NDTV's website. 
During the visit of the Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to India in December 2024, some Indian media outlets diverted attention from India-Sri Lanka relations and instead sought to sow discord between China and Sri Lanka. 
Experts suggest that, as an independent sovereign state, maintaining its own interests is paramount for the Sri Lankan government, which is expected to continue a balanced diplomatic approach.⍐

South Korean investigators arrest impeached President Yoon

 

South Korean investigators arrest impeached President Yoon in insurrection probe

By Hyunsu Yim and Ju-min Park January 15, 2025

• Summary

• Yoon agrees to go with investigators to avoid "bloodshed"
• Yoon first sitting president to be arrested
• Arrest warrant refers to Yoon as "ringleader of insurrection"
• Tokyo monitoring events with "serious interest"
• U.S. says committed to working with South Korea

SEOUL, Jan 15 (Reuters) - South Korean authorities arrested impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol on Wednesday over insurrection allegations, with the embattled leader saying he agreed to comply with what he called an illegal probe to avoid "bloodshed".

His arrest, the first ever for an incumbent South Korean president, is the latest head-spinning development for one of Asia's most vibrant democracies even though the country has a history of prosecuting and imprisoning former leaders.

Since lawmakers voted to stand him down after his short-lived declaration of martial law on Dec. 3, Yoon has been holed up at his hillside residence, guarded by a small army of personal security that blocked a previous arrest attempt.

A defiant Yoon said he submitted himself for questioning to avoid any violence after more than 3,000 police officers marched on his residence to arrest him from the early hours of Wednesday.

"I decided to respond to the CIO's investigation - despite it being an illegal investigation - to prevent unsavoury bloodshed," Yoon said in a statement, referring to the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) that is heading the criminal probe.

Yoon's motorcade was later seen leaving his residence in an upscale area known as Seoul's Beverly Hills. It arrived at the investigators' office but was quickly surrounded by security and moved to the back of the building, where Yoon slipped in, evading the waiting media.

Authorities now have 48 hours to question Yoon after which they must seek a warrant to detain him for up to 20 days or release him.

 Impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol

Yoon's lawyers have said the arrest warrant is illegal because it was issued by a court in the wrong jurisdiction and the team set up to investigate him had no legal mandate to do so. A warrant to search Yoon at his residence, a copy of which was seen by Reuters, referred to Yoon as "ringleader of insurrection".

Yoon's declaration of martial law shocked South Koreans, rattled Asia's fourth largest economy and ushered in an unprecedented period of political turmoil in one of Washington's key security partners in the region. Lawmakers voted to impeach him and remove him from duties shortly after on Dec. 14.

Separate to the criminal investigation, the Constitutional Court is deliberating whether to uphold his impeachment by parliament and permanently remove him from office or restore his presidential powers.

The United States remains committed to working with the government in Seoul and appreciates all its efforts and citizens "to act in accordance with the Constitution", a spokesperson for the White House National Security Council said in statement.

The top government spokesperson in neighbouring Japan, Yoshimasa Hayashi, told a daily news briefing that Tokyo was following developments in South Korea "with particular and serious interest".

YOON SUPPORTERS

The latest arrest attempt that began before dawn gripped the nation with hundreds of thousands glued to live feeds showing bus loads of police arriving near the presidential residence, pushing past Yoon supporters and then walking towards the gates of the compound carrying ladders and wire cutters.

As local news broadcasters reported that Yoon's detention was imminent, some minor scuffles broke out between pro-Yoon protesters and police near the residence, according to a Reuters witness at the scene.

Throngs of those protesters gathered in sub-zero temperatures, some wrapped in foil blankets and others waving flags bearing "Stop the Steal" slogans referring to Yoon's unsubstantiated claims of election fraud - one of the reasons he gave to justify his short-lived martial law declaration.

Some of Yoon's supporters have drawn parallels with his plight and that of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, who also claimed voter fraud contributed to his election defeat in 2020 but recovered to make a stunning political comeback.

"It is very sad to see our country falling apart," said Kim Woo-sub, a 70-year-old retiree protesting Yoon's arrest outside his residence on Wednesday.

"I still have high expectations for Trump to support our president. Election fraud is something they have in common but also the U.S. needs South Korea to fight China," he said.

Despite polls showing a majority of South Koreans disapprove of Yoon's martial law declaration and support his impeachment, the political standoff has given oxygen to his supporters and his People Power Party (PPP) has seen a revival in recent weeks.

Support for the PPP stood at 40.8% in the latest Realmeter poll released on Monday, while the main opposition Democratic Party's support stood at 42.2%, within a margin of error and down from a gap of 10.8% from last week, the poll said.⍐