{"id":72200,"date":"2022-04-29T06:00:49","date_gmt":"2022-04-28T20:00:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/?p=72200"},"modified":"2022-04-28T18:25:09","modified_gmt":"2022-04-28T08:25:09","slug":"the-australian-factor-in-south-koreas-security-strategy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/the-australian-factor-in-south-koreas-security-strategy\/","title":{"rendered":"The Australian factor in South Korea\u2019s security strategy"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/figure>\n

The US \u2018hub and spoke\u2019 bilateral alliance system is no longer fit for purpose and America, Australia and Japan are actively seeking to network security arrangements in the Indo-Pacific. A recognition of the advantage of networked security relationships can be seen in the growing number of these arrangements throughout the region: the Quad, AUKUS, the Japan\u2013Australia Reciprocal Access Agreement, the Japan\u2013India Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement, and India\u2019s invitation to Australia to join the Malabar naval exercise are all excellent examples. But, while South Korea is one of the most important US treaty allies in Asia, its modest approach to expanding defence ties has left it noticeably absent from many of these arrangements.<\/p>\n

Outgoing President Moon Jae-in\u2019s signature New Southern Policy seeks to diversify and strengthen the country\u2019s diplomatic, economic and security relations. It includes a \u2018peace pillar\u2019 that prioritises broadening and strengthening South Korea\u2019s security relationships with South and Southeast Asian countries. Yet this pillar is often criticised<\/a> as the weakest and least fleshed-out element of the policy. South Korea \u2013 Southeast Asia security cooperation thus far has avoided \u2018sensitive\u2019 areas of hard security cooperation. The focus is on non-traditional security issues such as disaster response and maritime pollution, which, while important in their own rights, do little to directly contribute to South Korea\u2019s national security.<\/p>\n

Caught in a geopolitical tug-of-war between the US and China and heavily reliant on both, South Korea must weigh the consequences of more robust efforts to network security relationships in the region.<\/p>\n

As president-elect Yoon Suk-yeol\u2019s administration prepares to enter the Blue House on 10 May, his foreign policy team has articulated a more forward-leaning strategic direction based on \u2018confident diplomacy and strong national security<\/a>\u2019. Throughout his campaign, Yoon stated his intentions to end Moon\u2019s policies<\/a> of \u2018strategic ambiguity\u2019 vis-\u00e0-vis US\u2013China competition and scrap the \u2018three nos<\/a>\u2019 by, among other things, purchasing additional THAAD air defence batteries from the US. That Yoon\u2019s first five post-election phone calls were with the leaders of the Quad countries and the UK underscores the incoming administration\u2019s intent to elevate South Korea\u2019s regional leadership role through increased cooperation with like-minded democracies.<\/p>\n

South Korea and Australia, as two militarily capable US allies with shared interests in maintaining stability in the Indo-Pacific and protecting the rules-based international order, should cooperate in pursuing a stronger defence relationship. Expanding security ties will enhance both countries\u2019 security and contribute to deterrence in the Indo-Pacific as a whole.<\/p>\n

As the new Yoon administration considers reformulating South Korea\u2019s foreign policy, expanding security cooperation with Australia should be a high priority. Moon\u2019s administration oversaw significant growth in the security relationship. Last year, Seoul and Canberra inked a $1 billion deal<\/a> for 30 self-propelled howitzers and 15 armoured supply vehicles\u2014Australia\u2019s first major defence deal with an Asian country\u2014and upgraded their relationship to a \u2018comprehensive strategic partnership\u2019.<\/p>\n

While the administration was publicly adamant that these developments and Moon\u2019s related visit to Australia were not pointed at China, the political signalling inherent in the timing of the deal was undeniably significant. The announcement came not long after Australia joined AUKUS, a development that antagonised China and deepened tensions in the China\u2013Australia relationship. The visit was planned before the AUKUS announcement, yet it remains relevant that South Korea proceeded even in light of this potentially complicating strategic development.<\/p>\n

Another promising sign of increasing defence ties, Hanwha Defense\u2019s Redback infantry fighting vehicle is moving into the next phase of competition as one of two final candidates to become the Australian Army\u2019s first dedicated IFV. After undergoing nine months of testing and evaluation by the Australian Defence Force, Hanwha is set to deliver<\/a> the Redback to the Republic of Korea Army for two months of trials. These developments show that while South Korea remains dependent on China economically, it is placing greater trust in the US and its allies for its security, and is actively seeking to take on a greater regional role, even at the risk of angering China.<\/p>\n

South Korea\u2019s need for economic diversification away from China was the strongest motivation behind the New Southern Policy. South Korea and Australia share experiences of Chinese economic coercion and both governments are similarly elevating the importance of economic security. Alongside their defence deal, the two countries concluded an agreement<\/a> for Australia to boost exports of rare earths to South Korea. China currently dominates the rare-earth industry, refining 80\u201390% of the world\u2019s supply. South Korea is not alone in seeking to reduce its dependence on China for rare earths; the US and Japan<\/a> are also striving to do the same. South Korea and Australia should build upon the rare-earths deal and pursue further cooperation in supply-chain resilience through their participation<\/a> in the US\u2019s proposed Indo-Pacific economic framework.<\/p>\n

South Korean and Australian strategies are already moving in similar directions as both countries seek to reduce their economic reliance on China and broaden and deepen their security relationships with multiple partners. With Yoon\u2019s expressed interest in attending the next Quad summit as an observer, the incoming administration would be well served to take the opportunity to strengthen the Australia \u2013 South Korea security relationship. During their phone call after the South Korean election, Prime Minister Scott Morrison expressed his interest<\/a> to Yoon in visiting Seoul to further discussions on deepening cooperation. The Yoon team should build off the momentum of the forthcoming Quad leaders\u2019 summit, set to take place <\/a>in Japan in the next couple of months, and arrange for a South Korea \u2013 Australia summit to take place soon after.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The US \u2018hub and spoke\u2019 bilateral alliance system is no longer fit for purpose and America, Australia and Japan are actively seeking to network security arrangements in the Indo-Pacific. 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