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[외교안보•정치] [송경진 회원] Why Korea needs a flexible and prosperous Indo-Pacific vision (Perth USAsia 2021.04.07)
Date: 2021-04-21
Perth USAsia Centre | 송경진 FN 글로벌이슈센터장, 前 세계경제연구원 원장
Posted 2021.04.21
KEY POINTS
→ The recent US-Korea 2+2 Meeting in Seoul has reignited questions over whether Korea should adopt a Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy and engage the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue
→ Participation in an expanded Quad would assist Korea in dealing with critical regional issues including the Korean Peninsula and economic coercion from any regional powers including China
→ Korea has been reluctant to align itself with the Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy over concerns of angering China and North Korea by joining what is perceived to be an anti-China initiative
→ Korea can enhance its strategic weight by building upon its existing New Southern Policy to develop its own Indo-Pacific Vision
→ In order to expand, the Quad should broaden its scope and become more accommodating to reluctant countries who are concerned over great power rivalry
The recent Republic of Korea-United States Foreign and Defense Ministerial Meeting (2+2) has given rise to renewed interest in Seoul as to whether or not Korea should officially endorse the Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy and engage with the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad). South Korean Foreign Minister Chung Eui-young and Defense Minister Suh Wook met with their US counterparts Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in Seoul on 17 March 2021 to discuss the Korea-US bilateral relationship.
