{"id":2207170,"date":"2024-11-18T08:00:46","date_gmt":"2024-11-17T23:00:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/?p=2207170"},"modified":"2024-11-17T23:02:35","modified_gmt":"2024-11-17T14:02:35","slug":"south-korea-diversifies-trade-and-diplomacy-at-apec-ahead-of-trumps-return","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2024\/11\/south-korea-diversifies-trade-and-diplomacy-at-apec-ahead-of-trumps-return\/","title":{"rendered":"South Korea diversifies trade and diplomacy at APEC ahead of Trump\u2019s return"},"content":{"rendered":"
South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol held high-level bilateral talks with U.S. President <\/span>Joe Biden<\/span><\/a>, Japanese Prime Minister <\/span>Shigeru Ishiba<\/span><\/a>, Chinese leader <\/span>Xi Jinping<\/span><\/a>, Canadian Prime Minister <\/span>Justin Trudeau<\/span><\/a> and Vietnamese President <\/span>Luong Cuong<\/span><\/a> during the APEC Summit in Lima, Peru. Discussions focused on advancing the ROK-China Free Trade Agreement (FTA), strengthening economic and security ties with Canada and expanding cooperation with Vietnam.<\/span><\/p>\n Yoon and Ishiba agreed to deepen collaboration on regional security, particularly in countering Russia-North Korea military cooperation, and reaffirmed their commitment to shuttle diplomacy. Talks with Biden emphasized the importance of the trilateral partnership between the U.S., South Korea and Japan, with Biden reiterating Washington\u2019s defense commitments to its allies.<\/span><\/p>\n Yoon also advanced ties with <\/span>Peru<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>Brunei<\/span><\/a>, emphasizing critical minerals, LNG and infrastructure as areas for cooperation, reflecting Seoul\u2019s broader strategy to strengthen economic resilience and energy security.<\/span><\/p>\n WHY IT MATTERS<\/b>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n South Korea\u2019s flurry of meetings at APEC demonstrates a deliberate strategy to diversify trade partnerships and strengthen alliances as Donald Trump prepares to assume the U.S. presidency in Jan. 2025. While reinforcing ties with the U.S. and Japan, Seoul is also working to restore dialogue with China to navigate potential trade disruptions.<\/span><\/p>\n Yoon\u2019s meeting with Ishiba highlights the deepening cooperation between South Korea and Japan as the two nations face shared challenges, including North Korea\u2019s nuclear program, the fallout from U.S.-China trade tensions and Trump\u2019s protectionist policies. Their commitment to collaborate closely reflects a growing recognition that a united front is crucial for regional stability, especially as Trump may pressure the two allies for greater defense contributions.<\/span><\/p>\n Yoon\u2019s meeting with Xi illustrates Seoul\u2019s efforts to balance its alliance with Washington while preserving economic ties with Beijing. As Trump\u2019s trade policies could disrupt South Korea\u2019s exports, expanded trade with China may provide a vital buffer. Although ROK-China relations have been strained under Yoon\u2019s administration, Beijing has shown signs of seeking improved ties, including granting South Korea <\/span>visa-free status<\/span><\/a> and appointing a senior diplomat, <\/span>Dai Bing<\/span><\/a>, as ambassador to Seoul.<\/span><\/p>\n