Japan and’Anti-China Resolution’ Blingen “Go to Seoul to Reconfirm” … President Moon Meets

US Secretary of State Tony Blincoln arrives at Osan Air Force Base on the 17th. [연합뉴스]

Joe Biden, the head of foreign affairs and security of the US administration, visited Korea on a schedule of two days and one night on the 17th. Secretary of State Tony Blincoln arrived at the Osan Air Force Base at around 2:20 p.m., and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin at about 12 p.m., and began his visit to Korea. The two ministers will hold a meeting with the Korean counterparts, Eui-Yong Jeong and the Minister of Defense in Seoul, respectively. On the 18th, a meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defense (2 2) will be held. Ministers Blincoln and Austin will also prevent President Moon Jae-in.

The visit of Ministers Blincoln and Austin to Korea is the first face-to-face diplomacy after taking office to strengthen the Northeast Asian alliance. It is also the first ministerial-level overseas visit to the Blincoln administration.
From the perspective of South Korea, it is an opportunity to strengthen the alliance between Korea and the United States in the early days of the Biden administration. · As there are disagreements between the United States, some point out that how much it can be resolved will determine the outcome of the visit to Korea.
In this regard, an official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, “As it is a ministerial-level meeting, we share in-depth talks on a number of strategic issues, but do not make practical coordination on specific issues or pending issues.” It is also a remark that it means that the current issue that may cause disagreement in the first place will not be put on the agenda.

The schedule of the visit to Korea by the US Secretary of State and Defense. Graphic = Kim Hyun-seo [email protected]

However, it is also a burden for South Korea that the two ministers formed consensus on major issues at the 2+2 meeting with Japan on the 16th, just before their visit to Korea. In particular, it is evaluated that the US and Japan have decided to de facto anti-China solidarity in various areas related to the security of the Indo-Pacific region. The joint statement of the US-Japan 2+2 conference related to China’s suppression of the democratic groups in Hong Kong and military exercises in the East China Sea and the South China Sea. “China’s actions in violation of the existing international order are raising political, economic, military, and technological challenges to the international community.”The evaluation was put.

After the 2+2 meeting with Japan, Secretary Blincoln said, “If China’s pressure and aggressive behavior interfere with maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific, we will also fight back.” It is a warning message that you will take action. He said, “This is a message to reconfirm to Korean counterparts as well when I go to Seoul.” In fact, it is a remark to the effect that South Korea also wants to participate in the Chinese check. From the perspective of South Korea, which has maintained a strategic ambiguity between the US and China, the visit of Ministers Blincoln and Austin itself is acting as a pressure to make a choice. In this visit to Korea, it is true that the’moment of truth’ that Korea will face is approaching more and more quickly, although it is possible to officially avoid revealing disagreements between Korea and the United States on specific issues.

Tony Blincoln (left), US Secretary of State and Lloyd Austin, US Secretary of Defense. [중앙포토]

The U.S. and Japan both reinforced the alliance and held in check China around a quad aiming for a’free and open Indo-Pacific’. The United States is the country leading the quad, which is evaluated as a security consultative body for China checks, and Japan is in charge of the quad’s secretariat.

Korea has not disclosed a clear position regarding participation in the quad. Minister Eui-yong, who was inaugurated in January, also expressed the principle of participation in the quad, saying, “If we comply with transparent, open, and inclusive international norms, we can cooperate with any regional partner.”
However, as the Biden administration has set Quad as a key axis of its diplomatic strategy, the position that’there was no official request for participation in the quad’ has made it a difficult issue to be avoided anymore. This is the reason why an analysis suggests that the temperature difference between South Korea and the United States surrounding the quad participation may be confirmed in the schedule of Ministers Blincoln and Austin’s visit to Korea.

On the 16th, the United States and Japan agreed on’complete denuclearization of North Korea’ at the 2+2 talks by the US-Japan diplomatic-defense ministers. Secretary of State Tony Blincoln said he would review North Korea policy with all options open, including additional pressure on North Korea in this regard. [미 국무부 제공]

The North Korean nuclear issue is expected to be a key topic to be discussed in the schedule of Ministers Blincoln and Austin’s visit to Korea. Earlier in the US-Japan 2+2 meeting, the two countries reaffirmed that North Korea’s nuclear weapons are a great threat to international peace and stability, and reaffirmed their commitment to the complete denuclearization of North Korea.

In particular, Minister Blincoln said at a press conference immediately after the 2+2 meeting, “We will focus on North Korea’s nuclear missile development and human rights issues.” It also expressed its position to review North Korea policy, leaving all options open, including additional pressure measures. If the Biden administration moves toward a hard-line response to the North Korean nuclear issue, there is a possibility of conflict with South Korea’s position, which prioritizes discussions through inter-Korean dialogue and North Korea-US dialogue.

The cooperation between Korea, the United States, and Japan, which the Biden administration is emphasizing, is also a difficult agenda for the Korean government. Earlier, in the joint statement of the US-Japan 2+2 meeting, only a short evaluation was included in terms of “very important for security, peace, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region” related to Korea-US-Japan cooperation.
However, there is a possibility that the US will raise the intensity of requests for the restoration of trilateral cooperation between Korea, the US, and Japan on the Korean side. In this case, Korea may face pressure that Korea must take the lead to restore the relationship between Korea and Japan, which is the premise of cooperation between the United States and Korea. In this regard, an official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, “The dialogue between Korea and Japan maintains a two-track stance (separating past and current issues). “He said.

Reporter Jeong Jin-woo [email protected]