Korea did not join the initiative against detention of foreigners for political purposes, led by Canada and supported by the United States. On the 15th (local time), the Canadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs launched a’declaration against voluntary detention in state relations’ in which 58 countries and the European Union (EU) participate. The aim is to eradicate the’hostage diplomacy’ practices of some countries that use foreign detention as a political tool through international solidarity. US Secretary of State Tony Blincoln emphasized in a video message that day, “(Voluntary detention of foreigners) is a heinous act that too many countries abuse,” and “Human is not a bargaining card.”
Participation in Canada, US and EU, China opposes
The first time the king spoke with Minister Eui-yong,
“You can’t divide the camp by ideology”
However, there was no South Korea in the signatories disclosed by Canada. Foreign Ministry spokesman Choi Young-sam said at a briefing on the 16th, when asked “whether the government has not been asked to participate,” he said, “I have been aware of him, and I still do.” We will keep an eye on the trends of discussions in the international community in the future.”
Diplomats believe that the government was conscious of China and North Korea and was absent. It is true that this declaration targets China. When Canada arrested China’s Huawei vice-chairman Meng Wan-zhou in 2018, China prosecuted two Canadian nationals on charges of espionage and is still in custody. A spokesman for the Chinese Embassy in Canada said in a statement that “China expressed great dissatisfaction and strong opposition to this declaration, and delivered it to Canada.”
In this regard, even if the government considered the relationship between Korea and China, there are criticisms that it is not appropriate to absent in that this declaration is directly related to the issue of human rights, which is a universal value. The victims of voluntary detention by Koreans are also endless. Six Korean citizens are detained in North Korea alone. Iran’s recent detention of Korean sailors can also be seen as detention for political purposes. It can be seen as a contradiction that the Moon Jae-in administration, which set the protection of overseas Koreans as a major diplomatic goal, does not participate in this declaration.
Shin Beom-cheol, director of the Center for Foreign Affairs and Security at the Institute for Economics and Social Affairs, said, “If a country belonging to the liberal camp and growing up with the benefits of liberalism shows this attitude, it can be alienated from other countries that support democratic principles.
Meanwhile, on the 16th, Foreign Minister Eui-yong Eui-yong made a phone call with Wang Yi, a member of the State Council of China and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, for the first time after taking office. According to the announcement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, Wang said, “We support openness, inclusion, and regional cooperation, and oppose dividing the camp by ideology.” This can be interpreted as a remark on caution against South Korea’s participation in the US-led quad (four-way security cooperation in the US, Japan, India and Australia).
Reporters Yoo Ji-hye and Lee Min-jung [email protected]