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Foreign Minister Park Jin delivers a briefing on May 23 on the outcomes of the South Korea-US summit. (Yonhap News)

South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin expressed his hope that China will play the role of a “responsible nation” and “respect the newly emerging order and rules” in the Indo-Pacific region on Monday. 

When asked about Korea-China relations after the South Korea-US summit, Park said at a press briefing that “strengthening the Korea-US alliance does not mean that we will neglect [relations with China],” adding that “the relationship between the US and China is not a ‘zero-sum game’ for Korea.”

“If China raises such concerns, it is our foreign policy to create a consensus to resolve those concerns through strategic communication and to develop relations with each other with mutual respect,” he continued.

Regarding the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF), in which South Korea has agreed to participate, he said, “We will communicate closely so that China does not feel left out or excluded.”

However, Park’s remarks show a marked difference from China's perception of international relations.

On Sunday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi stated, “If the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework becomes a political tool for the United States to maintain regional economic hegemony and deliberately exclude specific countries, the United States will stray from the right path.”

Wang expressed his strong displeasure at the purpose of the US Indo-Pacific strategy, which Beijing sees as an attempt to encircle it and to use countries in the Asia-Pacific region as “pawns” for US hegemonic expansion.

Regarding trilateral cooperation between South Korea, the US, and Japan, Park said, “In order to respond to North Korea's nuclear and missile security threats, and in terms of economic security, cooperation between South Korea, the US, and Japan is important.”

By Kwon Hyuk-chul, staff reporter

Please direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]