On December 28th, 2022, South Korea unveiled the details of its new strategy in the Indo-Pacific region. That was considered as South Korea’s first comprehensive regional strategy to shape its future foreign policy and was also an important move to raise its national status.
The turning point in policy
Under the three cooperation principles of inclusiveness, trust and reciprocity, South Korea affirmed that the focus of the new strategy is to promote a free, peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific region through the establishment of a rules-based order and cooperation on human rights. In a 37-page report, the South Korean Government presented nine core tasks to implement the Strategy, including: (1). Building a regional order based on norms and rules; (2). Cooperating to promote the rule of law and human rights; (3). Promoting nuclear non-proliferation and counterterrorism efforts across the region; (4). Expanding comprehensive security cooperation; (5). Building economic security networks; (6). Strengthening cooperation in critical domains of science and technology and narrowing the digital gap; (7). Leading regional cooperation on climate change and energy security; (8). Engaging in “contributive diplomacy” through tailored development cooperation partnerships; (9). Promoting mutual understanding and exchanges.
South Korean presidential office said that Seoul is building a strategy that reflects the values of freedom and solidarity for the Indo-Pacific on the basis of its assessment of the importance of this region. The details of the report mentioned the direction of cooperation as well as the plan to promote relations with partners in the regions of North Pacific, Southeast Asia, South Asia, Oceania, and African countries bordering the Indian Ocean, Europe, Central and South America. In particular, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is identified as the most important cooperation partnership of South Korea. One worth-noting point in the new strategy is that President Yoon Suk Yeol government seems to show significant changes in compared to its predecessors. For a long time, South Korea's security plans were often limited to the Korean peninsula and Northeast Asia while regional initiatives were limited to economic cooperation, trade, etc. However, through this groundbreaking report, the Blue House has realised the idea of expanding its vision to the entire Indo-Pacific region, thereby enhancing strategic cooperation on bilateral, regional and global issues.
By valuing freedom, rule of law and human rights, South Korea's new policy is said to align with the US Indo-Pacific Strategy. This assessment not only comes from the information that the drafting of such a large-scale policy was carried out by two officials of the North America Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but also in the specific lines that the current Government is seeking. Seoul aspires to promote and strengthen a regional order based on universal rules and values based on alliances with countries that share these values. The above argument is very similar to the US concept of focusing on "freedom" and "international order based on universal values" while building policy on Indo-Pacific region. South Korea also affirmed its opposition to unilaterally changing the status quo by the use of force in this large area. Seoul committed to step up maritime security cooperation in the region, emphasising its assurance of peace, stability, and freedom for maritime and flights in the East Sea - the world's key sea lane. In addition, the report stated the interconnection of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait with security on the Korean peninsula as well as the entire Indo-Pacific region.
Thus, it can be seen that, despite expressing clear views on "hot" issues in the region, which can be compared with China, the Blue House affirmed that South Korea's vision of Ocean-Pacific is an inclusive initiative, not targeting or excluding any country. South Korea also committed to pursue common interests with China on the basis of mutual respect and reciprocity. Analysts say that South Korea is trying to make the difference with the US Indo-Pacific strategy of building the Quad alliance (US - Japan - Australia - India) to restrain China's increasing control of the entire region in order to maintain the U.S. interests and power as a superpower.
Expanding international role
As the home to 65% of the world's population, the Indo-Pacific region is rich in natural resources with several important sea lanes for global trade. It has the three largest economies in the world, the US, China and Japan. The region also generates 62% of global GDP, 46% of total international trade and 50% of total maritime shipping. In addition, 07 out of 10 countries with the largest military forces in the world, namely the U.S., China, India, Japan, South Korea, Pakistan and Australia, are also present in the region. Recognising the status of this vast territory, along with the U.S., many countries around the world have increased their engagement in the Indo-Pacific and are making their own strategic policies. Meanwhile, Indo-Pacific region is the market of three-quarters of South Korea’s export and this region provides two-thirds of imports for Seoul. However, South Korea is said to be relatively "unconcerned" about participating in the increasingly hot race to compete for influence in the Indo-Pacific. Only after President Yoon Suk Yeol came to power in May 2022, did this Northeast Asian country begin to "put pen to paper" for the first outlines of the South Korean version of the Indo-Pacific Strategy. This move reflects the perception that the stability and development of the Indo-Pacific region is closely related to the long-term interests of South Korea. Continuing to stay "out of the game", Seoul will miss potential opportunities for cooperation and establishment of a worthy status in the rapidly changing Indo-Pacific region. With two main goals of economy and security, the Strategy will be an important milestone in ensuring national interests; at the same time, demonstrating Seoul's commitment to expanding the diplomatic relations, enhancing its role and contribution to the Indo-Pacific region, in line with the position of the world's 10th largest economy.
On the economic side, besides the huge potential, this region is currently the place where the US promotes a new initiative called the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF). In particular, the core issue of IPEF is to establish stable supply channels for important industrial raw materials such as semiconductors and batteries. This is also the strength of South Korea as the country is currently a major exporter of semiconductors and high-tech products and plays an important role in the global supply chain. By joining IPEF, South Korea will establish a network between the US and its allies in the production of strategic products such as chips and batteries - two of the key products for most of the world's economies, becoming a pillar in the global economic, security and technological alliance. Therefore, South Korea's announcement of its joining IPEF is not a surprise but a step towards not only realising its commitment to becoming a "global core country", but also being able to fulfil its leading role in discussions on important areas, such as: digital economy, carbon neutrality and clean energy etc.
This decision marks a shift in South Korea's foreign policy in a more obvious direction. In the past, South Korea's previous governments used to seek a balance in their relations with China, also known as its largest export partner. However, when promoting IPEF, the Blue House has clearly demonstrated its efforts to diversify economic and trade relationships, reducing dependence on the world's second largest economy. Instead of maintaining the policy of "security cooperation with the US, economic cooperation with China", the new South Korean government has developed a roadmap for "security cooperation with the US, economic cooperation with the world". This is in line with President Yoon Suk Yeol's new foreign policy stance of focusing on resolving instability caused by new security threats, strengthening regional diplomacy to become less dependent on China, and pursuing high-tech competitiveness through global economic governance.
At present, as the US-China economic and geopolitical competition is expected to intensify in the Indo-Pacific region. This region also maintains 93% of French special economic zones, as well as the British increased naval activities within the framework of the "Global Britain" strategy. Thus, security threats to Seoul are not limited to the North Korean nuclear issue. As a result, South Korea is forced to take steps to ensure its own security in the period of multiple challenges arising while Indo-Pacific is still in the period of establishing an effective security structure to response to the US-China power competition. Seoul is being "complained" by members of the "Quad" and regional partners about remaining "passive" in participating in security issues beyond the Korean peninsula. Therefore, the announcement of the stance regarding security assurance in the East Sea and the Taiwan Strait in the Indo-Pacific Strategy shows that South Korea has clearly expressed its views and is willing to contribute into the regional security architecture and take a more active role in addressing potential threats. Through the Strategy, the Administration of President Yoon Suk Yeol reasserts its position as a key ally of Washington in the region. This move not only demonstrates the smooth coordination with the US on key issues but also in the goal of upgrading the South Korea-US alliance into a comprehensive strategic alliance of the Blue House.
To realise these groundbreaking ideas, South Korea must prepare detailed implementation plans and need more time to evaluate actual results. However, the launch of the Indo-Pacific Strategy is a great start for the Northeast Asian country to assert its position as a "middle power" in the region and in the world of different changes.
VAN KHANH – DANG TRUONG