Seoul’s cautious Indo-Pacific strategy maintains balance between US and China



Analysis Seoul’s cautious Indo-Pacific strategy maintains balance between US and China Despite outward similarities with its U.S. ally, Seoul’s Indo-Pacific strategy stresses cooperation with Beijing James FretwellDecember 30, 2022 SHARE COPY LINK FACEBOOK X LINKEDIN MASTODON Republic of Korea (May 10, 2022) South Korea’s new Indo-Pacific strategy marks a closer alignment with its American ally’s approach to the region, while also holding out hope that it can maintain its lucrative ties with U.S. rival China. On Wednesday, the Yoon Suk-yeol administration released its “Strategy for a Free, Peaceful and Prosperous Indo-Pacific Region.” The 40-page document doesn’t contain any surprises. Still, its careful wording and presentation reflect South Korea’s approach to balancing relations between the U.S., its main security ally, and China, its main economic partner. Yoon announced the Indo-Pacific strategy in November at the ASEAN summit in Cambodia, shortly ahead of his © Korea Risk Group. All rights reserved. No part of this content may be reproduced, distributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from Korea Risk Group. LATEST ANALYSIS 01Lee Jae Myung risks public trust as South Korea rewires its justice system 02South Korea turns to Central Asia as Iran war tests its energy resilience 03Houthi seizure of Mokha sharpens South Korea’s Hormuz deployment dilemma 04Japan’s stronger yen may cut Korea’s import bill while raising funding costs 05South Korea leans on Europe as Hormuz deployment choices grow narrower 06Hanwha’s Austal bid shows where South Korea’s MASGA plan may be heading 07China’s Taiwan pressure may reveal more disciplined strategy toward South Korea 08South Korea tests its Hormuz limits as Trump pressure builds across alliance

Analysis

Seoul’s cautious Indo-Pacific strategy maintains balance between US and China

Despite outward similarities with its U.S. ally, Seoul’s Indo-Pacific strategy stresses cooperation with Beijing

James FretwellDecember 30, 2022

Seoul’s cautious Indo-Pacific strategy maintains balance between US and China

Republic of Korea (May 10, 2022)

South Korea’s new Indo-Pacific strategy marks a closer alignment with its American ally’s approach to the region, while also holding out hope that it can maintain its lucrative ties with U.S. rival China.

On Wednesday, the Yoon Suk-yeol administration released its “Strategy for a Free, Peaceful and Prosperous Indo-Pacific Region.” The 40-page document doesn’t contain any surprises. Still, its careful wording and presentation reflect South Korea’s approach to balancing relations between the U.S., its main security ally, and China, its main economic partner.

Yoon announced the Indo-Pacific strategy in November at the ASEAN summit in Cambodia, shortly ahead of his

LATEST ANALYSIS

01Lee Jae Myung risks public trust as South Korea rewires its justice system
02South Korea turns to Central Asia as Iran war tests its energy resilience
03Houthi seizure of Mokha sharpens South Korea’s Hormuz deployment dilemma
04Japan’s stronger yen may cut Korea’s import bill while raising funding costs
05South Korea leans on Europe as Hormuz deployment choices grow narrower
06Hanwha’s Austal bid shows where South Korea’s MASGA plan may be heading
07China’s Taiwan pressure may reveal more disciplined strategy toward South Korea
08South Korea tests its Hormuz limits as Trump pressure builds across alliance

Seoul’s cautious Indo-Pacific strategy maintains balance between US and China

LATEST ANALYSIS

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James Fretwell