An Analysis of the Republic of China’s Policy on the Approval of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea

In May 1940, Kim Gu asked for approval of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea(the Provisional Government), but about a year later, after the Korean Volunteers Army moved north, the Chinese government changed its passive attitude and began to actively discuss the approval of the Provisional Government. And around the end of November, an approval policy was established on the premise of the unification of the Korean revolutionary forces. After the outbreak of the Pacific War, the Chinese government had to take into account the positions of the combatant nations and neighboring countries when dealing with the issue of the Provisional Government. After U.S. President Roosevelt's radio address, the Chinese government decided to formally approve the Provisional Government in the face of public opinion that the U.S. would soon approve it. However, in consideration of the international environment, Jang Ga-seok accepted the opinion of the United States and delayed the approval of the Provisional Government. After the Cairo Declaration, Koreans’ distrust and dissatisfaction with the Chinese government increased. In this situation, the Chinese government virtually approved the provisional government to maintain friendly relations with the Provisional Government and establish a pro-China regime in Korea after the war. China and the U.S. have cited unification between independence movement forces as the reason for reserving the approval of the Provisional Government. However, it is true that the issue of integration of independence movement forces is a critical task for the Korean independence movement camp to overcome. The Provisional Government continued its efforts to establish an integrated government to increase anti-Japanese capabilities and obtain the official approval.