{"id":2201564,"date":"2023-06-30T17:00:31","date_gmt":"2023-06-30T08:00:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/?p=2201564"},"modified":"2023-07-03T19:52:07","modified_gmt":"2023-07-03T10:52:07","slug":"pacific-promise-south-korea-charts-an-ambitious-course-in-an-emerging-region","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2023\/06\/pacific-promise-south-korea-charts-an-ambitious-course-in-an-emerging-region\/","title":{"rendered":"Pacific promise: South Korea charts an ambitious course in an emerging region"},"content":{"rendered":"

President Yoon Suk-yeol recently celebrated a noteworthy diplomatic achievement with his successful hosting of the Pacific Summit. However, carving a definitive niche for South Korea in the crowded arena of Pacific diplomacy will not be easy.<\/span><\/p>\n

From May 29 to May 30, Yoon hosted representatives from 17 of the 18 Pacific Island Forum (PIF) members at the inaugural Korea-Pacific Islands Summit in Seoul. A dozen of these nations sent their leaders to attend, marking a significant stride for South Korea\u2019s Pacific outreach.<\/span><\/p>\n

The general reception was positive for Yoon and most of the attendees. The declaration from the Pacific Summit underscored the core concerns of the region, including climate change, health and regional resilience. As part of its commitment, South Korea vowed to double its developmental funding toward the region, open diplomatic ties with Niue and consider expanding its diplomatic presence in the area.<\/span><\/p>\n

Nevertheless, the complexities inherent in South Korea\u2019s quest to enhance its prominence quickly became apparent.<\/span><\/p>\n

In a public <\/span>statement<\/span><\/a> immediately upon returning from the Pacific Summit, Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare declared his government could not align with the summit declaration due to a certain \u201celement\u201d in the statement that seemed to target third countries.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe shall not be forced to take sides and participate in power politics,\u201d Sogavare said.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

While his language was diplomatically phrased, it undeniably conveyed apprehensions about appearing to target China.<\/span><\/p>\n

WHY THE PACIFIC, AND WHY NOW?<\/b><\/p>\n

While not explicitly mentioned in the summit declaration, China\u2019s growing profile in the region is a key motivator behind Seoul\u2019s burgeoning interest in the Pacific.<\/span><\/p>\n

South Korea\u2019s presence in the region has, to date, been relatively modest. It maintains only two diplomatic posts in the Pacific Islands \u2014 in Fiji and Papua New Guinea. Its financial contribution to the region was a modest $15.52 million in 2020, representing a mere 0.36% of the total donor expenditure directed toward the Pacific. However, Yoon committed to more than double this contribution to $39.9 million by 2027.<\/span><\/p>\n

South Korea\u2019s Pacific aspirations were formally signaled at the end of 2022 when ROK foreign minister Park Jin unveiled the country\u2019s Indo-Pacific strategy. As part of its \u201cglobal pivotal state\u201d initiative, the Yoon administration seeks to broaden the geographic scope of its engagement, explicitly including Oceania.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, South Korea is merely the latest entrant in the rapidly expanding list of nations expressing interest in the Pacific.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Over the past 12 months, the U.S., India and Japan have all hosted high-profile bilateral summits involving Pacific leaders. The region has witnessed a surge of high-level visits, including U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, India\u2019s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and foreign or defense ministers from Japan, France, Germany and the U.K.<\/span><\/p>\n

While these nations carefully frame their interests in terms of Pacific priorities like health, climate change and economic development, it\u2019s evident that China is the primary catalyst for their increased interest.<\/span><\/p>\n

Beijing has been a long-time player in the region, but its actions in 2022, including sending then-foreign minister Wang Yi on an eight-country Pacific tour, entering into a bilateral security agreement with the Solomon Islands and proposing a broader regional security agreement, sparked concern among nations traditionally associated with the Pacific.<\/span><\/p>\n

The most outspoken reaction came from President David Panuelo of the Federated States of Micronesia, who <\/span>warned<\/span><\/a> that the initiatives constituted an effort by China \u201cto acquire access and control of our region.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Most Pacific leaders were more diplomatic, but several raised concerns about the risks of geopolitical tensions and militarization in the region.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Pacific Islands may be small in size, but their political clout is significant. The region comprises 12 U.N. voting members, three of the eight nations that give diplomatic recognition to Taiwan and 11 members of the Bureau International des Expositions \u2014 a fact of particular relevance to Korea given Busan\u2019s candidacy for the 2030 World Expo.<\/span><\/p>\n

To their own surprise, Pacific leaders are seeing their region emerge as a consequential player in the Global South, attracting attention from larger powers keen on securing their allegiance.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"

President Yoon Suk-yeol and first lady Kim Keon-hee host an official dinner for delegates of the Korea-Pacific Islands Summit 2023, May 29, 2023 | Image: ROK Presidential Office<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

WHAT\u2019S NEXT?<\/b><\/p>\n

Yoon\u2019s first summit was largely successful, helped by his personal engagement with each attending leader. However, the response from Sogavare underscores the challenges South Korea may encounter in maintaining this momentum.<\/span><\/p>\n

One immediate challenge is crafting an appropriate response to Japan\u2019s controversial plans to dispose of radioactive wastewater from the damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant. Initially, South Korea vociferously opposed the proposal but has lately moderated its stance, aligning with Yoon\u2019s broader efforts to bolster relations with Japan.<\/span><\/p>\n

At the summit held in Seoul, leaders <\/span>agreed<\/span><\/a> that the ocean must remain \u201cfree of environmental pollution by radioactive wastes\u201d and stressed the importance of international consultation and scientific assessment. The issue remains a closely watched concern in the region, as highlighted by a <\/span>statement<\/span><\/a> from the Pacific Islands Forum on June 26.<\/span><\/p>\n

Meanwhile, <\/span>China<\/span><\/a> has urged South Korea to join its opposition to Japan\u2019s wastewater disposal plans more forcefully. The sensitivity surrounding nuclear waste is acute in a region that, for a time, served as the primary global site for nuclear testing \u2014 events that wreaked havoc on the marine ecosystems in certain parts of the Pacific.<\/span><\/p>\n

Although it\u2019s not comparable in scale to Japan\u2019s proposed disposal plan, both South Korea and China have avoided mentioning that their own nuclear power plants discharge minute quantities of <\/span>tritium-contaminated water<\/span><\/a> per global standard operating procedures. This is a facet of the broader debate that is likely to warrant further discussion and transparency.<\/span><\/p>\n

South Korea will need to think about how to distinguish its offering to the Pacific in an increasingly congested arena. Although Pacific leaders are mindful of the opportunities presented by the competition for their attention, they remain wary of the geopolitics currently pervading their region.<\/span><\/p>\n

Seoul\u2019s relatively low profile might prove to be advantageous. Contrary to traditional regional powerhouses like Australia, New Zealand, France and the U.S., South Korea has never had a military presence in the region. It has no historical baggage linked to colonization or warfare. As a non-member of the Quad and AUKUS, it is perceived as taking a relatively moderate stance in the U.S.-China rivalry.<\/span><\/p>\n

The region\u2019s youth also hold South Korean culture in high esteem, which could serve as a valuable asset. Yoon has expressed his intent to host leadership summits periodically, and an agreement was reached at the Seoul summit to hold foreign minister meetings biennially.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, the region will be keen to see how South Korea follows through on the commitments made during the Seoul Summit. The first order of business for Seoul will be fulfilling its explicit promises regarding development funding and diplomatic representation.<\/span><\/p>\n

Additionally, the region will expect sustained engagement with existing regional frameworks, particularly the Pacific Islands Forum and strong support in global discussions for the region\u2019s priorities as outlined in the <\/span>2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific<\/span><\/a>, with a specific focus on climate change.<\/span><\/p>\n

South Korea is well positioned in this regard as it hosts the global headquarters of the Global Climate Fund and the Global Green Growth Institute. The latter is already well-established as a major player in climate action in the region.<\/span><\/p>\n

While South Korea is unlikely to displace other traditional powers in the region and may find it challenging to match larger counterparts in terms of influence, it has the opportunity, through astute diplomacy, to assert itself as a moderate, constructive and stabilizing force in the Pacific. In doing so, it can simultaneously enhance its own standing as a global pivotal state.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

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

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