AFTER THE UNITED KINGDOM APPLIED TO JOIN the China-proposed Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, and Germany, France and Italy plan to follow in its footsteps, the Republic of Korea is reported to be considering participating in the project. Comments:

Joining the AIIB will bring the ROK obvious economic benefits. Having already completed negotiations with China on a bilateral FTA, it needs more advantages to compete for trade with China with Japan, which has similar industries with it. However, it faces political pressure from the United States. Therefore the ROK is still hesitating; but there is not much time left for it to consider.

Beijing News, March 19