{"id":2201148,"date":"2023-05-25T18:57:57","date_gmt":"2023-05-25T09:57:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/?p=2201148"},"modified":"2023-05-26T19:26:33","modified_gmt":"2023-05-26T10:26:33","slug":"south-korea-hopes-to-flex-middle-power-with-first-pacific-islands-summit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2023\/05\/south-korea-hopes-to-flex-middle-power-with-first-pacific-islands-summit\/","title":{"rendered":"South Korea hopes to flex middle power with first Pacific Islands summit"},"content":{"rendered":"

South Korea is set to convene its first-ever summit with Pacific Island nations next week as it seeks to strengthen its influence in an often neglected corner of the Indo-Pacific region. Simultaneously, the island nations look to use this historic platform to press their vital interests, particularly in areas such as climate change and trade.<\/span><\/p>\n

The two-day <\/span>summit<\/span><\/a> kicks off May 29 in Seoul and will feature leaders from South Korea, the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) members and the PIF secretary general. The collective goal of the event is to strengthen ROK-Pacific cooperation.<\/span><\/p>\n

This summit is one of Seoul\u2019s first regional summits since the Yoon Suk-yeol administration unveiled its <\/span>Indo-Pacific strategy<\/span><\/a> last December. Seoul says it seeks to expand engagement with the Pacific Island countries in line with the multilateral <\/span>2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

While South Korea has had only a \u201cmodest influence\u201d in the Pacific, according to Patrick Thomsen, director of the University of Auckland\u2019s Pacific Research Platform, the upcoming summit presents a unique opportunity to bolster diplomatic relations.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ina Choi, who leads the Southeast Asia and Oceania team at the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy (KIEP), says the meeting offers an opportunity to enhance these relations to the highest level and address the cooperative needs of Pacific nations.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe summit will help South Korea develop a comprehensive partnership with them, encompassing a wide range of issues, such as climate change, disaster management, the digital divide and cooperation on fisheries,\u201d Choi told <\/span>Korea Pro<\/span><\/i>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Beyond Seoul\u2019s interests, the Pacific leaders will also use the summit to convey their agenda, according to Sandra Tarte, director of the politics and international affairs program at the Fiji-based University of the South Pacific (USP).<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPacific leaders will have their own strategic issues and interests to present to the summit, so that it’s not just about buying into a South Korean strategy, but it’s advocating and promoting the Blue Pacific strategy,\u201d she said.<\/span><\/p>\n

HISTORY OF ROK-PACIFIC RELATIONS<\/b><\/p>\n

Since becoming a Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) dialogue partner in 1995, South Korea has exhibited its commitment to the region through the ROK-PIF Cooperation Fund established in 2008. This fund extends support to the Pacific realm in domains such as healthcare, climate change, trade, and combat against illegal fishing.<\/span><\/p>\n

Over the years, South Korea and the PIF have aligned on issues of mutual interest. These range from cooperation in fisheries to shared concerns over Japan\u2019s intention to <\/span>discharge treated water<\/span><\/a> from the damaged Fukushima nuclear plant.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, under the Yoon administration, South Korea appears more inclined to <\/span>collaborate<\/span><\/a> with Tokyo regarding the inspection of Fukushima. Tarte suggests this posture could potentially spur Pacific leaders to voice their concerns at the upcoming summit about the proposed water discharge, given the region\u2019s longstanding apprehensions of nuclear power due to past nuclear tests conducted by Western powers.<\/span><\/p>\n

Auckland\u2019s Thomsen said South Korea\u2019s official development assistance (ODA) agency maintains relations with some Pacific territories. However, South Korea\u2019s aid contributions to the Pacific lag behind those from the region\u2019s leading players, such as the U.S., Australia, New Zealand, Japan and China.<\/span><\/p>\n

Between 2008 and 2020, South Korea contributed $107.66 million in ODA to the Pacific, according to the Lowy Institute\u2019s <\/span>Pacific Aid Map<\/span><\/a>. Most of these funds were directed toward projects aimed at strengthening healthcare systems, fisheries and climate change response. Despite this, Oceania still represents less than 1% of South Korea\u2019s annual <\/span>ODA spending<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Seoul\u2019s modest aid contributions to the Pacific and the lack of past leaders\u2019 summits demonstrate a lack of engagement historically. However, Choi adds that this scenario could change, as Seoul now seeks to promote the Pacific Islands as key partners in development cooperation.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"

South Korean and Pacific officials inaugurating a preparatory office ahead of the summit, Feb. 2023 | Image: 2023 Korea-Pacific Islands Summit<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

WHAT BOTH SIDES WANT<\/b><\/p>\n

South Korea and the Pacific will be keen to use the summit as a platform to expand trade relations.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMany Pacific countries have strong trade relationships with China and not much with Korea,\u201d Thomsen told <\/span>Korea Pro<\/span><\/i>. \u201cVery few products from the Pacific region make it to Korea.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

He said Seoul will be keen to leverage burgeoning interest in South Korean culture \u2014 fueled by the \u2018Korean Wave\u2019 sweeping across the Pacific \u2014 to secure agreements around fishing rights and trading opportunities for Korean businesses and manufacturers.<\/span><\/p>\n

Tourism represents another potential area for cooperation. However, Thomsen added that the people of the Pacific are also seeking other immigration pathways to sojourn in South Korea.<\/span><\/p>\n

USP\u2019s Tarte suggests that the Pacific may also seek to enlist Seoul\u2019s support in <\/span>maritime security<\/span><\/a> and countering transnational crime. However, the region\u2019s primary concern remains climate change, which poses a disproportionate risk to island territories as rising sea levels <\/span>threaten<\/span><\/a> their inhabitants and their livelihoods.<\/span><\/p>\n

Tarte told <\/span>Korea Pro<\/span><\/i> that the Pacific leaders would welcome disaster relief and humanitarian aid from South Korea, including funds for the PIF\u2019s <\/span>Pacific Resilience Facility<\/span><\/a>. But she also added that, as a middle power, Seoul can help in persuading major greenhouse gas emitters, like China, the U.S. and India, to demonstrate \u201cleadership and ambition\u201d in tackling the issue.<\/span><\/p>\n

Thomsen said that Pacific leaders are likely to lobby for Seoul\u2019s assistance on climate mitigation financing and would encourage Seoul to take a \u201cproactive\u201d approach to regional engagement on this issue.<\/span><\/p>\n

Choi agreed that Seoul has the opportunity to demonstrate its commitment to the region by strengthening its efforts toward climate change mitigation. Despite having fewer resources than wealthier nations, she believes Seoul can contribute in other ways.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSouth Korea will focus on capacity building for climate change adaptation in Pacific Island countries, such as sharing knowledge and providing training for government officials in tackling climate change, as well as offering consultation on climate change mitigation,\u201d Choi said. She further suggested that South Korea can leverage its expertise in digital technology to improve climate prediction and develop early warning systems.<\/span><\/p>\n

Choi also pointed out that apart from long-term efforts to boost its regional standing, South Korea\u2019s outreach to the Pacific may serve a more immediate goal \u2014 securing votes for its 2030 World Expo bid in Busan.<\/span><\/p>\n

South Korea has made a concerted effort to promote its bid in the region, spearheaded by initiatives such as foreign minister Park Jin\u2019s <\/span>efforts<\/span><\/a> to win over his Pacific counterparts and <\/span>local advertising campaigns<\/span><\/a> run by South Korean companies\u2019 Pacific branches.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"

South Korea promotes the first-ever ROK-Pacific Islands summit in Seoul, May 2023 | Image: KOCIS<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

MEDIATING BETWEEN SUPERPOWERS<\/b><\/p>\n

As South Korea amplifies its efforts to heighten its influence in the Pacific, it does so against a backdrop of <\/span>growing rivalry<\/span><\/a> in the region between China and more established powers such as the U.S., Australia and Japan.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe growing strategic importance of Pacific Islands, which garnered the attention of major global powers, is one factor in Korea\u2019s stronger engagement with the region,\u201d said Choi.<\/span><\/p>\n

As Washington and its allies seek to counter China\u2019s influence, Tarted noted that the Pacific Island states are increasingly caught in a \u201cgeopolitical conflict\u201d between the superpowers.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhy would we want, as an island region, to buy into that?\u201d she asked, stating that the Pacific will have to avoid appearing to favor one side in this escalating geopolitical friction.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe Pacific island countries really need to start addressing the issue of geopolitics much more directly because in the past they\u2019ve said that this is not a priority issue,\u201d Tarte said. \u201cBut the geopolitical tensions are actually becoming much worse for us and they are going to have negative implications for us.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Thomsen suggested that South Korea, being a firm U.S. ally while also maintaining robust economic relations with Beijing, finds itself in a \u201cunique opportunity to act as a middle power.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWith Seoul being adept at negotiating its position between the U.S. and China, there is also an opportunity for South Korea to be a broker of continued peace and act as an ally for Pacific nations in this regard,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

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

South Korea is set to convene its first-ever summit with Pacific Island nations next week as it seeks to strengthen its influence in an often neglected corner of the Indo-Pacific region. Simultaneously, the island nations look to use this historic platform to press their vital interests, particularly in areas such as climate change and trade. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10329,"featured_media":2201149,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[28],"class_list":["post-2201148","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-analysis","tag-inter-korean-foreign-relations"],"yoast_head":"\nSouth Korea hopes to flex middle power with first Pacific Islands summit - 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\/05\/south-korea-hopes-to-flex-middle-power-with-first-pacific-islands-summit\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"South Korea hopes to flex middle power with first Pacific Islands summit - KOREA PRO\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"South Korea is set to convene its first-ever summit with Pacific Island nations next week as it seeks to strengthen its influence in an often neglected corner of the Indo-Pacific region. 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