The Yoon Suk-yeol administration is leveraging arms sales as a key means of diplomacy under a broader Indo-Pacific strategy. The strategy encompasses also seeks to deepen strategic engagement with Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states, but Seoul’s approach could invite Chinese retaliation, which would likely be more substantial than the ones that its allies have faced so far.

ASEAN CENTRALITY

The ROK’s goal is to enhance ties with ASEAN and its individual member states via arms sales in response to the changing security environment.

Recent collaborations have seen Hyundai Heavy Industries producingJose Rizal-class frigates and constructing