Three cheers for Korea's Indo-Pacific Strategy

By Ahn Ho-young

There are times when a government is expected to make a declaration on the basic orientation of its foreign and security policy. In my mind, we are presently living through one such time. I am glad that the Korean government rose to the occasion and brilliantly met that expectation.

As we look back, 1953, the year when the fighting stopped for the Korean War through a truce agreement, was such a time as well. In the middle of the Cold War, Korea entered into the Mutual Security Treaty with the United States. Through the treaty, Korea declared to the world that Korea's foreign and security policy will be based on a liberal democracy, a market economy, human rights and the rule of law. That declaration laid the foundations for Korea's economic development and political democratization.

Forty years later, the Cold War came to an end. Former communist countries rushed to seek reforms and liberalization. It looked possible to expand the "rule-based international order" to the whole world. This time, Korea declared its "Northern Policy" aimed at normalizing relations with former communist countries. The policy provided an opportunity for Korea to extend its diplomacy to cover the whole world. It also provided an opportunity to accelerate Korea's economic development. The per capita GDP for Korea, which stood at $6,600 in 1990, has risen exponentially to more than $35,000 nowadays. Korea was one of the most impressive beneficiaries of the globalization of international relations and economics in the post-Cold War era.

Unfortunately, that era is coming to an end. The "rule-based international order" is meeting with huge challenges. In February last year, Russia and China promised cooperation "without limits." Soon enough, Russia invaded Ukraine, for the simple reason that Ukraine wishes to join NATO and the EU, bastions of liberal democracy and market economics.

For almost a year now, Russia has relentlessly assaulted the Ukrainian military, civilians and basic infrastructure necessary for life. Russia bombarded even nuclear reactors and often threatens Ukraine with the use of nuclear weapons. There's a fear that such a blatant attack on a peaceful neighbor can be repeated in other parts of the world. It also seriously interferes with the free flow of goods and resources, further undermining economies around the world.

President Biden calls these challenges a fight "between democracy and autocracy." German Chancellor Olaf Scholz calls them "Zeitenwende," meaning an inflection point in history. With whatever name you choose to call them, Korea has to brace itself for fundamental changes in the security and economic environment of the world and the Indo-Pacific. It was against such a backdrop that Korea declared its Indo-Pacific Strategy on Dec. 28, last year.

The declaration deserves much praise. It carries messages right for the time we live in, and right for the gravity of the situation.

The declaration recognizes the gravity of the times at the very beginning: "Recently, there has been a rise in a combination of challenges that threaten a free, peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific. (...) and there is growing concern about democratic backsliding and challenges to universal values such as freedom, the rule of law and human rights."

Given such recognition of the times, the declaration keeps on emphasizing the importance for Korea to work to preserve the "rules-based international order," and concludes with nine core lines of effort that need to be made. The first core line is "Building regional order based on norms and rules"; "In realizing the vision for a free Indo-Pacific, the Republic of Korea is committed to partnering with like-minded countries that share the values of freedom, the rule of law and human rights as well as international norms to contribute to the stability and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific region."

The declaration has already met with highly positive responses from the U.S., Canada, other NATO members and Australia, the countries that are committed to defending the "rule-based international order." Each of them welcomed the common orientation expressed through Korea's declaration and looked forward to cooperating closely with Korea in the days to come.

The spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry responded with a neutral comment, "China hopes that Korea works for the development of sound and stable Korea-China relations." With respect to China, the declaration recognizes the country as "a key partner for achieving prosperity and peace in the Indo-Pacific region," and states that Korea "will nurture a sounder and more mature relationship, as we pursue shared interests based on mutual respect and reciprocity, guided by international norms and rules."

Given the geopolitical and geoeconomic reality of Korea, China is "a key partner," and Korea must develop sound and stable relations with China. A point that must be clarified by Korea up front is that these efforts should not interfere with Korea's security alliance with the U.S., a quintessential partner for Korea to maintain international norms and rules. Korea's declaration made the point sufficiently clear.

Ahn Ho-young (hyahn78@mofa.or.kr) is chair professor of North Korean studies, Kyungnam University. He also served as Korean ambassador to the U.S. and vice foreign minister.