hankyoreh

President Yoon Suk-yeol greets Korean compatriots living in Spain at a banquet held in a hotel in Madrid on June 29. (Yonhap News)

“I’m glad to be able to join this discussion about the changing international security environment with NATO, which was established on the foundation of liberal democracy and the rule of law. I hope that a cooperative relationship between NATO and the Indo-Pacific will become a cornerstone of a coalition defending universal values,” South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol said in his speech at the NATO summit on Wednesday.

Yoon’s remarks are tied to NATO’s denunciation of Chinese policies that “challenge our interests, security and values,” in the first direct mention of China in NATO’s strategic concept, the summit declaration which is intended to remain in place for the next decade. Some observers see this as the first step in Yoon’s anti-China agenda.

“As a new alignment of competition and conflict takes shape, there are indications that the universal values we have long defended are being denied,” Yoon said in his speech at the NATO summit. Yoon may be referring not only to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine but also to China and signaling his intention to actively join NATO’s efforts to contain China.

After the leaders of NATO’s four Asia-Pacific partners — Korea, Japan, Australia and New Zealand — said during a meeting on Wednesday that they would deliberate as necessary with European countries while drawing up a new Indo-Pacific strategy to be completed before the end of the year, there are predictions that Yoon will cooperate with efforts to curb China’s influence.

“Korea and the other three Asia-Pacific countries that were invited to attend the summit are conceiving a new Indo-Pacific strategy. Mixed up with that are a number of dilemmas and concerns about China,” said an official from Korea’s presidential office.

“Rather than an anti-China line, I’d say there’s a consensus about the need to, at a minimum, build a basic relationship of cooperation in the international community whereby no countries should be allowed to violate the rules and laws that are in place, with no exceptions,” the official explained.

Another explanation being offered is that behavior that might appear anti-China is actually a strategic choice for the economy.

“It’s high time for market diversification, because the Chinese export bonanza that we’ve had over the past 20 years is reaching its end. If you want to know why we’re looking to Europe now, it’s so we can prepare in advance for the structural changes in the global trade environment that we’re facing,” said Choi Sang-mok, the senior secretary to the president for economic affairs, during a local briefing.

By Kim Mi-na, staff reporter

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