{"id":2202778,"date":"2023-11-20T08:00:57","date_gmt":"2023-11-19T23:00:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/?p=2202778"},"modified":"2023-11-19T18:56:35","modified_gmt":"2023-11-19T09:56:35","slug":"yoons-apec-strategy-aligning-with-allies-but-getting-sidelined-by-china","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2023\/11\/yoons-apec-strategy-aligning-with-allies-but-getting-sidelined-by-china\/","title":{"rendered":"Yoon\u2019s APEC strategy: Aligning with allies, but getting sidelined by China"},"content":{"rendered":"
South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol <\/span>returned<\/span><\/a> home on Saturday after attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in San Francisco. During his three-day visit, Yoon advocated for collective action among APEC\u2019s 21 member economies to address global challenges such as climate change and supply chain disruptions, highlighting South Korea\u2019s commitment to international collaboration in tackling pressing global issues.<\/span><\/p>\n Yoon <\/span>met<\/span><\/a> with U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on the summit’s sidelines. These meetings reflect Seoul\u2019s efforts to foster closer ties with Washington and Tokyo, particularly in technology and security. However, a summit meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping did not materialize despite initial discussions. Yoon is set to embark on a six-day visit to Britain and France on Monday.<\/span><\/p>\n Why It Matters<\/b><\/p>\n Yoon\u2019s meetings with Biden and Kishida, alongside his call for collective action on global challenges, continue to spotlight South Korea\u2019s pivot toward strengthening its alliance and partnership with the U.S. and Japan. These meetings, especially amid rising tensions and technological competition in the region, signify the ROK\u2019s concerted effort to align more closely with other democratic countries in security, technology and economic cooperation.<\/span><\/p>\n However, Yoon\u2019s failure to meet with Xi \u2014 who engaged with <\/span>Biden<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Kishida<\/span><\/a> and leaders from <\/span>Mexico<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Peru<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Fiji<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>Brunei<\/span><\/a> \u2014 casts a shadow on Yoon\u2019s diplomatic efforts. This missed opportunity, particularly when contrasted with Xi\u2019s engagement with other leaders, will continue to fuel the perception among Yoon\u2019s critics that he has mismanaged the ROK\u2019s relations with China \u2014 a key economic partner and regional player. It will expose Yoon to further domestic criticism, questioning the effectiveness of his foreign policy<\/span><\/p>\n