Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Mariusz Blaszczak speaks during the signing ceremony of a framework contract with South Korean defense firms in Warsaw, July 27. Joint Press Corps

By Nam Hyun-woo

Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Mariusz Blaszczak's planned visit to Seoul was canceled as China rejected the Polish government jet's flight plan through its airspace.

According to officials, Blaszczak was scheduled to have a meeting with South Korean Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup here on Tuesday, but they ended up having a videoconference on Wednesday instead. He also missed the release ceremonies for weapons purchased recently by Poland in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province.

Blaszczak and his delegation were supposed to use the Polish government's jet to fly to Seoul via a direct air route over China. But China refused to allow the Polish delegation's jet to enter its airspace. The Polish side reportedly considered using other air routes, but didn't, as they would have required refueling and consumed too much time.

Though the South Korean government did not elaborate on the background for the decision, it is speculated that China did not permit Poland's jet to fly through its airspace because of its relationship with Russia and Seoul's closer relations with NATO countries.

While Beijing has been signaling its solidarity with Russia, Poland's government is believed to have sent at least $1.7 billion in military aid ― armored fighting vehicles, tanks, self-propelled guns and rocket launchers, among other weapon types ― to Ukraine, and its ruling conservative Law and Justice Party has been making aggressive moves to fortify the country's armed forces as war rages on next door. According to a BBC report, Poland is the third-largest donor of military aid to Ukraine, after the U.S. and U.K.

K-9 howitzers that will be exported to Poland are displayed during their release ceremony at Hanwha Defense's plant in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, Wednesday. Yonhap

In those efforts, South Korea is emerging as the Polish government's new partner for arms deals.

On July 27, the two signed an arms deal involving 1,000 K2 battle tanks, 672 K-9 Howitzers and 48 FA-50 fighter jets developed by South Korean companies, the largest ever of its kind for the East Asian country. The deal is valued as high as 40 trillion won ($28.17 billion).

In a recent interview with local news site I.PL, Blaszczak said that his government has completed negotiations with South Korea to buy close to 300 K239 Chunmoo multiple rocket launchers, and that he had been planning to sign to the contract for them during this botched visit to Seoul.

Against this backdrop, South Korea is strengthening its ties with NATO member countries. Following President Yoon Suk-yeol's visit to the 2022 NATO Summit in June, the country set up its mission to the organization to seek coalitions with member nations in the fields of nuclear non-proliferation, cyber defense, counterterrorism and others.

So far, Poland and China have maintained a solid economic partnership, with Poland being China's largest trading partner among Central and Eastern European countries. However, signs of conflict between them have been seen recently, particularly during the war in Ukraine, which has driven Warsaw to strengthen its alignment with NATO and the U.S.

Last month, the Polish foreign minister condemned China's strong-arm measures against Lithuania and expressed disappointment over unresolved trade issues with Beijing. Also, the Taipei Representative Office in Poland and Polish Office in Taipei inked a memorandum of understanding to establish a Taiwanese-Polish working group on semiconductors.

With the Polish defense minister's absence, South Korea Hanwha Defense and Hyundai Rotem each held release ceremonies for their K-9 howitzer and the K2 battle tank, respectively.

During its ceremony, Hanwha displayed 24 howitzers that will be exported to Poland in the first delivery. The delivery came less than two months after the signing of the first executive contract on Aug. 26.

"Poland, which is suffering a vacuum in its military force following its military aid to Ukraine, will be able to fill the vacuum as fast as possible through its deal with us," Hanwha Defense said.

Hyundai Rotem also rolled out 10 K2 tanks for its first delivery to Poland during a separate ceremony.

"We will continue making sustainable technology partnerships with overseas defense companies, and heighten the country's status in the defense industry further," Hyundai Rotem said.