US ramping up pressure on Korea amid rivalry with China

Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha speaks during a meeting at the ministry in Seoul, July 28. Korea Times file

By Do Je-hae

South Korea is facing increasing pressure to take a side in the escalating rivalry between the United States and China.

Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha underlined that the rising conflict among the two superpowers was the most daunting diplomatic challenge facing the country.

“The biggest concern among foreign policymakers is the heightened tension between the superpowers,” Kang said during a forum at the Korea National Diplomatic Academy, Monday.

“The competition began with trade disputes but has now expanded to a wider range of issues, including the economy, technology, military, security, politics and public health sectors. This worsening situation in superpower relations has destabilized multilateral institutions that are essential to the global system.”

The remarks came after Washington underlined its need for new strategies, including the establishment of strong multilateral structures in the Indo-Pacific region to counterbalance the rise of Beijing.

During a recent forum, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun hinted that the U.S. would be open to expanding the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, or so-called Quad ― U.S., Australia, Japan and India ― to other countries that share similar values and enjoy “all-weather cooperation.”

“It is a reality that the Indo-Pacific region is actually lacking in strong multilateral structures,” Biegun said at the U.S.-India Strategic Partnership Forum, Monday. “They don't have anything of the fortitude of NATO or the European Union. The strongest institutions in Asia oftentimes are not inclusive enough. There is certainly an invitation there at some point to formalize a structure like this.”

Biegun spoke about working closely on COVID-19 cooperation with his counterparts in South Korea, Vietnam and New Zealand, in addition to countries included in the Quad concept of Pacific powers.

“The Quad isn't exclusive. I think there's plenty of reason to bring other countries into this discussion as well,” Biegun said.

Speculation is rising that the U.S. will continue to put pressure on Korea, a key ally in the region, to join forces with the U.S. for a more effective implementation of its new Indo-Pacific strategy.

But for Seoul, supporting Washington's strategy is not an easy option because of the huge importance it places on improving relations with Beijing, a key economic partner.

President Moon Jae-in has been eager to host a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Seoul this year, and has maintained active diplomacy with China as seen by a recent visit by Beijing's top diplomat Yang Jiechi to meet new National Security Adviser Suh Hoon.

Some experts warn that this enthusiasm in embracing China amid its increasing rivalry with the U.S. may give a negative impression to Washington. They also say China may use Xi's visit to pressure Korea to take its side.

“There may be some diplomatic gain in hosting Xi,” Lee Seong-hyon, director of the Center for Chinese Studies at the Sejong Institute, told The Korea Times. “But public sentiment toward China has turned negative in the last few years. The public also feels that Xi is using the visit as a card to pressure Seoul in U.S.-China relations.”

For now Seoul is maintaining “strategic ambiguity” by staying neutral in the war of the superpowers, and instead, focusing on disseminating its commitment to multilateralism.

“Korea's approach is to strengthen multilateralism and expand cooperation for peace and co-prosperity,” Kang said at the forum.