Discussion of the situation in the India-Pacific region, the meaning of Korea-China-Japan cooperation, and sustainable strategies
On the 27th, the Jeju Peace Research Institute held a seminar at the Somerset Palace Hotel to explore ways for cooperation between Korea, China, and Japan. At this seminar, experts in the fields of diplomacy, security, economy, and culture held in-depth discussions under the theme of “Trilateral cooperation between Korea, China, and Japan for stability in the Indo-Pacific region.” In particular, after the resumption of the Korea-China-Japan summit, the importance of trilateral cooperation was reexamined and practical measures for sustainable peace and prosperity were sought.
In his keynote speech, NEAR Foundation Chairman Jeong Deok-gu (former Minister of Commerce, Industry and Energy) stated, “The world order is turning into disorder, and the U.S.-China hegemony competition and the U.S. presidential election are complexly intertwined,” adding, “We must strengthen trust with the U.S. and He emphasized, “Only by overcoming the fear of Japan and restoring confidence in Japan can we truly engage in diplomacy as an advanced country.” He also added, “We need to develop diplomatic capabilities appropriate for our national status and expand infrastructure for this.”
In the first session, ‘The situation in the Indo-Pacific region and the meaning of Korea-China-Japan cooperation’, former Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Lim Seong-nam served as moderator, and Ewha Womans University Professor Park In-hwi, Seoul National University Distinguished Professor Kim Byeong-yeon, Sungkyunkwan University Professor Lee Hee-ok, and Park Young-joon, Director of the National Security Research Institute at the National Defense University, participated as panelists. Opinions and problems regarding North Korea, China, and Japan were broadly discussed, and the need for cooperation between Korea, China, and Japan was emphasized.
Professor Park In-hwi, who gave a presentation on American issues, said, “It is significant that the Yoon Seok-yeol government broke away from the term Northeast Asia by announcing the Indo-Pacific Strategy in terms of Korean diplomacy.” In the subsequent discussion on North Korea, Professor Kim Byeong-yeon pointed out, “As a result of China’s failure to take the North Korean nuclear issue seriously, its position on the Korean Peninsula narrowed and the distance from South Korea widened,” adding, “South Korea, Japan, and China are reclaiming space through small-scale cooperation.” “If you narrow it down, it’s worth it,” he argued.
Regarding China’s current situation, Professor Hee-ok Lee said, “Regardless of the results of the U.S. presidential election, China recognizes the U.S. policy of containing China as a constant and is seeking a survival strategy. However, due to limitations in growth potential, the window of opportunity is closing and the window of vulnerability is beginning to open.” Analyzed the current situation. Lastly, Director Park Young-jun analyzed that “in the post-Cold War period, cooperation between the United States and Russia and the United States and China has collapsed and the international situation has worsened,” adding, “In order to expand Korea’s diplomatic space, the trilateral cooperation project between Korea, Japan, and China is aimed at small-scale multilateralism.” “It must be given importance from this perspective,” he emphasized again.
Accordingly, former Vice Minister Lim Seong-nam, who chaired the session, advised, “It is most important for Korean diplomacy to take a long-term approach and secure policy consistency in the future,” and added, “The discussions in this session will contribute to establishing such a long-term policy for foreign policy.” He concluded by saying, “I expect that.”
In the second session, ‘Future Direction of Korea-Japan-China Cooperation: Diplomacy, Security, Economy, Culture’, Lee Kyu-hyung, Chairman of the Korea-Russia Dialogue (former Ambassador to China), served as moderator, Professor Cho Yang-hyun of the National Diplomatic Academy, Baek Beom-heum, Visiting Professor of Seoul National University Asia Research Institute (former Deputy Secretary-General of TCS), Ji Man-su, senior research fellow at the Korea Institute of Finance, and Jae-hyuk Han, visiting professor at Soonchunhyang University (former Consul General in Guangzhou) participated.
Professor Cho Yang-hyun, who participated as a panelist in the field of diplomacy, suggested, “We need to strengthen small-scale independence by creating a Korea-China-Japan vision group and institutionalizing the vision.” In particular, he emphasized cooperation by explaining that “TCS (Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat) needs authority, budget, and personnel support so that it can serve as a control tower,” and that “holding an annual Korea-Japan-China summit is by no means a loss.” .
Professor Baek Beom-heum in the field of security pointed out the factors underlying the deterioration of trilateral relations, including the West Sea, South Sea, and East China Sea, as the biggest obstacle to cooperation between Korea, Japan, and China, and argued, “As a trade country, our country is starving to death without trade, and there is no trade without the sea.” In addition, he suggested, “By establishing a new sub-organization of the existing TCS, we can open the door to security cooperation through institutionalization efforts such as accident-prone pollution maritime rescue and undersea terrain information sharing.”
Next, Senior Research Fellow Ji Man-soo emphasized the need to find new ways, noting that economic cooperation has retreated over the past five years, and Professor Jae-hyuk Han added that we need to find clues to cooperation by acknowledging the differences between each country amidst cultural similarities.
The last session, ‘Strategies for Sustainable Korea-China-Japan Cooperation’, was chaired by Kim Heung-jong, special professor at Korea University (former KIEP director), and featured former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Yoo Myung-hwan, Park Tae-ho, director of the International Trade Research Institute of Gwangjang (former head of the Trade Negotiation Headquarters), and Shin Kak-soo, vice-president of the NEAR Foundation (former vice-president of the NEAR Foundation). A roundtable was held with the participation of Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs) and Professor Emeritus Moon Heung-ho of Hanyang University. In this session, an in-depth discussion was held on practical diplomatic strategies, diagnosing the three countries’ cooperation plans through the Korea-Japan-China summit, trade relations and economic and trade cooperation strategies, and historical issues.
Former Minister Yoo Myung-hwan began the discussion with the question, “How can we continue to develop cooperation and summits between Korea, Japan, and China?” He then explained the relationship with China and examples of past governments, emphasizing that “the path to cooperation in Korea-Japan-China relations is to maintain TCS through consistent efforts.” In addition, Director Park Tae-ho emphasized the importance of ‘institutionalization of trilateral cooperation between Korea, Japan and China’ through a presentation on Korea-Japan-China trade relations and economic and trade cooperation strategies.
Vice Chairman Shin Kak-soo said, “The problem of cooperation between Korea, Japan, and China has been going on for a quarter of a century,” and suggested, “We need to expand cooperation at the regional level and increase support, including TCS.” Lastly, Professor Heung-ho Moon concluded the meeting by presenting his opinions on cooperation strategies centered on Chinese factors.
Meanwhile, in his opening speech, Director Kang Young-hoon of the Jeju Peace Research Institute, which hosts the event, said, “At the Jeju Forum last May, we sought practical strategies for peace and prosperity in the international community, and today, as an extension of that, we will hear valuable opinions from experts in each field. “This is an opportunity,” he emphasized. He then said, “I hope to see many people at the 20th Jeju Forum next year,” and requested support and cooperation for the Jeju Forum.
2024-10-01 17:35:23