Subscribe
E-Paper
 |
By Choo Jae-woo
China and Russia were not pleased after President Yoon Suk Yeol's interview with Reuters on April 20 prior to his state visit to the U.S. They were upset at his comments on the Taiwan question and the war in Ukraine. Beijing was vehement about President Yoon's opposition to changes in the status quo by force in the Taiwan Strait. The Chinese foreign minister showed no restraint in his response saying anyone interfering in the issue is "playing with fire."
Moscow countered Yoon's contemplation on the provision of lethal weapons to Ukraine as an intervention in the war. Russia went further to warn of heavy consequences for South Korea in the form of weapons support to North Korea. These responses coming from 'no limits' cooperative partners, as they dubbed their relationship, were taken out of context.
President Yoon's answers were reasonable enough as they met the concerns and interests of the international community. Most would not like to see the status quo in the Taiwan Strait region disrupted by force. Neither would many further like to hear about treacherous stories of the befallen innocent Ukrainian victims of Russia's merciless attacks. President Yoon's message was clear. Should there be a disruption of peace and stability by coercive means in the strait, Korea as a responsible stakeholder in the region will not remain idle. Should Russia keep massacring innocent people and violating the laws of war, Korea will be compelled to shift its standing position pertaining to supplying non-lethal weaponry to Ukraine.
President Yoon's messages were taken out of context by both China and Russia. With regard to the Taiwan Strait, he was asked about his thought on the growing tensions. The question was raised in the context of Beijing's intensification of pressure, both diplomatic and military, on Taiwan to accept Chinese sovereignty. His response was crystal clear and simple: "After all, these tensions occurred because of the attempts to change the status quo by force, and we together with the international community absolutely oppose such a change." His answer would have been the same had it been asked, perhaps by Chinese media, about the Taiwanese striving for independence that could upset the status quo situation in the strait.
With respect to the question of supporting Ukraine on the prospect of Korea's support of lethal weapons, his response was conditional. The question asked for further elaboration on the option that Korea might think it had to help Ukraine defend and rebuild itself. His response, again, was simple and clear: "If there is a situation the international community cannot condone, such as any large-scale attack on civilians, massacre or serious violation of the laws of war, it might be difficult for us to insist only on humanitarian or financial support." In other words, he was straightforward on Russia challenging the tolerance of the international community, and thereby, the possibility of a compelling effect it may engender on Korea's part as a nation that highly appreciates universal values.
President Yoon is committed to making his country a "Global Pivot State." It is a foreign policy vision that he adopted on his first day of the job as the president of South Korea. He wants his mother country to become, politically and diplomatically, a responsible state commensurate with its world economic standing profile. He foresees Korea making a more constructive contribution to the world peace and prosperity. He insists Korea should come forward to the defense of freedom, democracy, the rules-based order, the market economy and human rights. He has been persistent in his efforts to fulfill a foreign policy vision that has been welcomed worldwide.
Korea is on the same page as much of the world on these two particular global challenges. Korea wants peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. Koreans want the Taiwan question to be solved by peaceful means and measures. They would be the first to oppose a coercive Chinese unification as they solemnly do with their own unification question. And be resolved with the assent of the Taiwanese people. They will be against Taiwan's unilateral pronouncement of independence should it act as a force of disruption to the equilibrium and tranquility of the Strait by provoking China's military response.
President Yoon, coupled with his deep-rooted appreciation for universal values, is apparently upset like most of his compatriots on Russia's unprovoked attacks on Ukraine and unchallenged violation of these values. By conditioning his country's possible shift in weapons supply policy on the world's condonation, he proclaimed Korea would not tolerate a large-scale civilian attack by Russia, should there be another one. He was righteous with his assertion that "I believe there won't be limitations to the extent of the support to defend and restore a country that's been illegally invaded both under international and domestic law." It is one of the long-upheld universal principles that this world has tried to respect and abide by since the end of World War II.
Korea's diplomatic transformation attempts are surprising to many, including its neighboring powers. They never thought of it happening in their wildest dreams. They are witnessing Korea's convergence into a contributing state to world affairs. It is something unheard of, and unseen to their ears and naked eyes before. Korea must also unwaveringly meet the challenges stemming from its adjustments to its transformation. Korea will prevail with its effort to fully become a global pivot state, a defender of universal values and rule-based liberal international order.
Choo Jae-woo (jwc@khu.ac.kr) is a professor of international relations at Kyung Hee University and director of the China Center at the Korea Research Institute for National Security. He was a visiting fellow at the Brookings Institution.
