{"id":2199946,"date":"2023-01-24T09:09:59","date_gmt":"2023-01-24T09:09:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nknews.org\/koreapro\/?p=2199946"},"modified":"2023-04-05T16:10:18","modified_gmt":"2023-04-05T07:10:18","slug":"south-koreas-indo-pacific-strategy-neglects-the-indo-part-to-its-detriment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2023\/01\/south-koreas-indo-pacific-strategy-neglects-the-indo-part-to-its-detriment\/","title":{"rendered":"South Korea\u2019s Indo-Pacific strategy neglects the \u2018Indo\u2019 part to its detriment"},"content":{"rendered":"

South Korea <\/span>released<\/span><\/a> its Indo-Pacific Strategy (IPS) on Dec. 28, 2022, adding its name to a long list of countries expressing their interests in the Indo-Pacific region.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

To its credit, the IPS <\/span>recognize<\/span><\/a>s<\/span> the region’s challenges, such as rising uncertainties in the security environment, geopolitical competition and the arms race. However, the ROK\u2019s\u00a0 Indo-Pacific Strategy is arguably a misnomer, as it largely neglects the \u201cIndo\u201d part relating to the strategic role of the Indian Ocean and India in favor of focusing on the Pacific Ocean.<\/span><\/p>\n

This oversight is not mere semantics: By neglecting India in its strategy, Seoul risks losing its opportunity to meaningfully improve relations with New Delhi.<\/span><\/p>\n

THE STRATEGY\u2019S FLAWS<\/b><\/p>\n

Even if the U.S. welcomed South Korea\u2019s IPS, the ROK\u2019s strategy still lacks any concrete aspect that marks a meaningful change in its approach toward the Indo region of the Indo-Pacific.<\/span><\/p>\n

Like its predecessor, former President Moon Jae-in\u2019s <\/span>New Southern Policy<\/span><\/a> (NSP), the IPS states the region\u2019s issues, addresses the regional sub-system and focuses on the role of allies, neighbors and partners in the region and beyond. However, it limits the region\u2019s importance by avoiding the contextual challenges the region faces, such as China\u2019s rising <\/span>influence<\/span><\/a> within the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) states.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The IPS strategy looks at South Asia and the Indian Ocean in isolation, diagonally different from how it <\/span>looks<\/span><\/a> at Southeast Asia and its security links with the South China Sea. For instance, whereas the IPS mentions the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) 26 times, it mentions India only three times, showing how much it neglects India and the IOR.<\/span><\/p>\n

Since the ROK and India established diplomatic ties in 1973, trade between the two nations has significantly increased. <\/span>According to Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (<\/span>KOTRA<\/span><\/a>), bilateral trade between South Korea and India grew 40% in 2021 compared to the previous year, recording about $23.7 billion. And in 2018, then-President Moon and Indian Prime minister Narendra Modi jointly inaugurated <\/span>Samsung Electronics’ smartphone assembly factory<\/span><\/a> in Noida.<\/span><\/p>\n

While this may have benefited both countries, the IPS limits the ROK\u2019s ability to expand that relationship into something more significant.<\/span><\/p>\n

For instance, by constraining India to the IPS\u2019 <\/span>South Asia section<\/span><\/a>, the ROK splits India from its sphere of influence, the Indian Ocean. By doing so, the ROK restricts the possibility of cooperation on issues of maritime security, joint patrols and cooperation in East Africa.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"

The USS Abraham Lincoln, a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, transits the Indian Ocean, Jan. 2012, via Wikimedia Commons<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

MISSING PIECES<\/b>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

South Korea\u2019s IPS neglects at least two other issues in the Indo-Pacific region.<\/span><\/p>\n

First, it fails to integrate other regional perspectives, as it is reportedly planned under the North American Affairs Bureau in the ROK\u2019s foreign ministry. A strategy that deals with such a large territory needs more comprehensive consultation with strategic experts, think tanks and government officials.<\/span><\/p>\n

Second, Yoon has articulated his vision for a Global Pivotal State primarily in economic terms and still lacks a strategic vision beyond increasing South Korea\u2019s exports. Overly viewing South Asia through an economic lens fails to address the challenges the region\u2019s countries face in the Indian Ocean, with China\u2019s actions <\/span>undermining<\/span><\/a> democracies and increasing <\/span>coercive diplomacy<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

As much of the world\u2019s trade goes through this region, many countries in this area are targets of China\u2019s debt-trap diplomacy. South Korea could work with like-minded countries in the region by providing more financial assistance.<\/span><\/p>\n

Suppose South Korea wishes to plan a holistic strategy that addresses the Indo-Pacific region. In that case, it cannot marginalize the strategic importance of the Indian Ocean or understate the importance of India as a strategic partner beyond economics and the land mass of South Asia.<\/span><\/p>\n

To make the strategy more significant, it is necessary to have clarity regarding the geographical expanse of the Indo-Pacific region and its strategic vitality in South Korea’s foreign policy objectives. That clarity must then be followed by the recognition of partners that can help to achieve the strategic vision South Korea wishes to achieve.<\/span><\/p>\n

The answer to better management of South Korea\u2019s Indo-Pacific strategy lies in strengthening partnerships beyond traditional cooperation and finding new partners. Some hints lie in the U.S. approach toward the Indo-Pacific region, which seeks to work closely with India on the subcontinent and the Indian Ocean region.<\/span><\/p>\n

The ROK has ambitions to improve relations with India and vice versa. South Korea has exponentially increased its <\/span>weapons exports<\/span><\/a> to India in recent years. And as <\/span>India is South Korea\u2019s <\/span>seventh-largest export market<\/span><\/a>, there is enormous potential for improved trade and bilateral relations.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

However, Seoul will need to do more if it hopes to become the Global Pivotal State that President Yoon envisions.<\/span><\/p>\n

Edited by John Lee<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Business & Economy<\/span><\/a>Inter-Korean & Foreign Relations<\/span><\/a><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

South Korea released its Indo-Pacific Strategy (IPS) on Dec. 28, 2022, adding its name to a long list of countries expressing their interests in the Indo-Pacific region.\u00a0 To its credit, the IPS recognizes the region’s challenges, such as rising uncertainties in the security environment, geopolitical competition and the arms race. However, the ROK\u2019s\u00a0 Indo-Pacific Strategy […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10407,"featured_media":2199947,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[24,28],"yoast_head":"\nSouth Korea\u2019s Indo-Pacific strategy neglects the \u2018Indo\u2019 part to its detriment - KOREA PRO<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2023\/01\/south-koreas-indo-pacific-strategy-neglects-the-indo-part-to-its-detriment\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"South Korea\u2019s Indo-Pacific strategy neglects the \u2018Indo\u2019 part to its detriment - KOREA PRO\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"South Korea released its Indo-Pacific Strategy (IPS) on Dec. 28, 2022, adding its name to a long list of countries expressing their interests in the Indo-Pacific region.\u00a0 To its credit, the IPS recognizes the region’s challenges, such as rising uncertainties in the security environment, geopolitical competition and the arms race. However, the ROK\u2019s\u00a0 Indo-Pacific Strategy […]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2023\/01\/south-koreas-indo-pacific-strategy-neglects-the-indo-part-to-its-detriment\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"KOREA PRO\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nknewsorg\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2023-01-24T09:09:59+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2023-04-05T07:10:18+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2023\/01\/park-jin.jpeg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1870\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1247\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"johnleenknews\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@southkoreapro\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@southkoreapro\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Abhishek Sharma\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2023\/01\/south-koreas-indo-pacific-strategy-neglects-the-indo-part-to-its-detriment\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2023\/01\/south-koreas-indo-pacific-strategy-neglects-the-indo-part-to-its-detriment\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"johnleenknews\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/#\/schema\/person\/b9766dba611638edc06a6e0b7078714d\"},\"headline\":\"South Korea\u2019s Indo-Pacific strategy neglects the \u2018Indo\u2019 part to its detriment\",\"datePublished\":\"2023-01-24T09:09:59+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2023-04-05T07:10:18+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2023\/01\/south-koreas-indo-pacific-strategy-neglects-the-indo-part-to-its-detriment\/\"},\"wordCount\":814,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/#organization\"},\"keywords\":[\"Business & Economy\",\"Inter-Korean & Foreign Relations\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Analysis\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2023\/01\/south-koreas-indo-pacific-strategy-neglects-the-indo-part-to-its-detriment\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2023\/01\/south-koreas-indo-pacific-strategy-neglects-the-indo-part-to-its-detriment\/\",\"name\":\"South Korea\u2019s Indo-Pacific strategy neglects the \u2018Indo\u2019 part to its detriment - KOREA PRO\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2023-01-24T09:09:59+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2023-04-05T07:10:18+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2023\/01\/south-koreas-indo-pacific-strategy-neglects-the-indo-part-to-its-detriment\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2023\/01\/south-koreas-indo-pacific-strategy-neglects-the-indo-part-to-its-detriment\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2023\/01\/south-koreas-indo-pacific-strategy-neglects-the-indo-part-to-its-detriment\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"South Korea\u2019s Indo-Pacific strategy neglects the \u2018Indo\u2019 part to its detriment\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/\",\"name\":\"KOREA PRO\",\"description\":\"Be smart about South Korea. Up-to-date analysis on foreign relations, politics, society and economy. Made by the producers of NK PRO and NK News.\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/#organization\",\"name\":\"KOREA PRO\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2022\/11\/logo.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2022\/11\/logo.png\",\"width\":360,\"height\":50,\"caption\":\"KOREA PRO\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nknewsorg\/\",\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/southkoreapro\"]}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"South Korea\u2019s Indo-Pacific strategy neglects the \u2018Indo\u2019 part to its detriment - KOREA PRO","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2023\/01\/south-koreas-indo-pacific-strategy-neglects-the-indo-part-to-its-detriment\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"South Korea\u2019s Indo-Pacific strategy neglects the \u2018Indo\u2019 part to its detriment - KOREA PRO","og_description":"South Korea released its Indo-Pacific Strategy (IPS) on Dec. 28, 2022, adding its name to a long list of countries expressing their interests in the Indo-Pacific region.\u00a0 To its credit, the IPS recognizes the region’s challenges, such as rising uncertainties in the security environment, geopolitical competition and the arms race. However, the ROK\u2019s\u00a0 Indo-Pacific Strategy […]","og_url":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2023\/01\/south-koreas-indo-pacific-strategy-neglects-the-indo-part-to-its-detriment\/","og_site_name":"KOREA PRO","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nknewsorg\/","article_published_time":"2023-01-24T09:09:59+00:00","article_modified_time":"2023-04-05T07:10:18+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1870,"height":1247,"url":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2023\/01\/park-jin.jpeg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"johnleenknews","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@southkoreapro","twitter_site":"@southkoreapro","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Abhishek Sharma","Est. reading time":"4 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2023\/01\/south-koreas-indo-pacific-strategy-neglects-the-indo-part-to-its-detriment\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2023\/01\/south-koreas-indo-pacific-strategy-neglects-the-indo-part-to-its-detriment\/"},"author":{"name":"johnleenknews","@id":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/#\/schema\/person\/b9766dba611638edc06a6e0b7078714d"},"headline":"South Korea\u2019s Indo-Pacific strategy neglects the \u2018Indo\u2019 part to its detriment","datePublished":"2023-01-24T09:09:59+00:00","dateModified":"2023-04-05T07:10:18+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2023\/01\/south-koreas-indo-pacific-strategy-neglects-the-indo-part-to-its-detriment\/"},"wordCount":814,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/#organization"},"keywords":["Business & Economy","Inter-Korean & Foreign Relations"],"articleSection":["Analysis"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2023\/01\/south-koreas-indo-pacific-strategy-neglects-the-indo-part-to-its-detriment\/","url":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2023\/01\/south-koreas-indo-pacific-strategy-neglects-the-indo-part-to-its-detriment\/","name":"South Korea\u2019s Indo-Pacific strategy neglects the \u2018Indo\u2019 part to its detriment - KOREA PRO","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/#website"},"datePublished":"2023-01-24T09:09:59+00:00","dateModified":"2023-04-05T07:10:18+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2023\/01\/south-koreas-indo-pacific-strategy-neglects-the-indo-part-to-its-detriment\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2023\/01\/south-koreas-indo-pacific-strategy-neglects-the-indo-part-to-its-detriment\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2023\/01\/south-koreas-indo-pacific-strategy-neglects-the-indo-part-to-its-detriment\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"South Korea\u2019s Indo-Pacific strategy neglects the \u2018Indo\u2019 part to its detriment"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/#website","url":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/","name":"KOREA PRO","description":"Be smart about South Korea. Up-to-date analysis on foreign relations, politics, society and economy. Made by the producers of NK PRO and NK News.","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/#organization","name":"KOREA PRO","url":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2022\/11\/logo.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2022\/11\/logo.png","width":360,"height":50,"caption":"KOREA PRO"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nknewsorg\/","https:\/\/twitter.com\/southkoreapro"]}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2199946"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10407"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2199946"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2199946\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2199949,"href":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2199946\/revisions\/2199949"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2199947"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2199946"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2199946"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2199946"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}