Key PointsAustralia and South Korea have strengthened defence ties.Defence Minister Richard Marles travelled to South Korea to satisfy his counterpart.Mr Marles additionally attended the Pacific Islands Discussion board.
When China and North Korea are your noisy neighbours, it pays to have good mates.
Some commentators say that South Korea is trying to Australia for a more in-depth relationship and stronger defence cooperation.
Defence Minister Richard Marles met his Korean counterpart Lee Jong-sup in Seoul this week, and the 2 nations agreed to strengthen bilateral ties on defence and different security-related points.
Mr Lee mentioned South Korea would take part for the primary time within the Australian-led multinational train Indo-Pacific Endeavour and in Operation render protected, geared toward disposing of submarine explosives from World Warfare Two from the underside of the Pacific.
It comes the identical week as a North Korean nuclear-armed satellite tv for pc launch failed, sending a rocket plunging into the ocean.
“There are various challenges rising within the area, and we’d like all the buddies we will share our values with, and Australia is on the high of that checklist,” Retired South Korean Common Chun In-Bum advised the ABC.
What occurred through the Defence Minister’s Korea go to?
After Mr Marles met with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, he and Mr Lee agreed to “work on an enhanced bilateral framework,” Mr Marles mentioned in a press release.
These conferences occurred on the sidelines of Seoul internet hosting the inaugural South Korea-Pacific Islands Summit.
Dongkeun Lee, a PhD pupil at Australian Nationwide College, mentioned Mr Marles’ go to was vital and joint navy workout routines could possibly be interpreted as the 2 nations manifesting a more in-depth relationship.
“The 2 nations have had an extended strategic relationship for some time, nevertheless it looks like they’ve been forgetting about it.” Mr Lee mentioned.
“At present, we’ve a right-wing president, which implies that he prefers extra deterrence (to North Korea) or strengthening alliances or partnerships with like-minded nations within the area, and can usually agency up ties with the US, Australia and Japan.”
This can be a sample on the subject of South Korean overseas coverage, and China doesn’t like this strategy.
South Korea is rising as a significant weapons seller globally – arms gross sales jumped to greater than US$17 billion ($25.7 billion) in 2022 from $7.25 billion (11 billion) the 12 months earlier than, based on the nation’s defence ministry.
In 2021, Australia signed a $1 billion contract for armoured automobiles from Korean firm Hanwha, the nation’s largest defence contract with an Asian nation.
South Korea needs to promote extra weapons to Australia and “can be very involved in promoting warships,” to its ally, Mr Lee mentioned.
“Australia is a extremely engaging market as a result of Australia has a number of buying energy, and the nations are sharing weapons programs as allies of the USA,” he mentioned.
South Korea is within the working to win a US$12 billion ($18 billion) deal to produce Australia’s subsequent infantry preventing car.
In accordance with Korean media, Hanwha has expressed curiosity in shopping for an Australian shipbuilding firm.
Affiliate Professor at Yonsei College, Jeffrey Robertson, is sceptical and mentioned South Korea sees Australia as extra of a buyer than a accomplice.
“If you happen to communicate to leftist politicians in Korea, they have a very totally different view. If you happen to learn Korean language media, when you dwell in Korea, you see that Australia is simply not vital in Korea. The one rationale is pure sources and promoting defence supplies,” he mentioned.
He added the present administration is conservative and “makes use of a number of rhetoric, together with phrases resembling freedom, democracy, human rights, and all the remainder, however to inform the reality, the diplomacy hasn’t actually modified all that a lot, there’s simply extra rhetoric”.
What are the 2 nations hoping to attain within the Pacific?
The Korea Pacific Islands Discussion board marked the primary time the place Korea gathered leaders of Pacific Island nations with the intention to focus on South Korea’s new plan to have interaction extra with their nations.
“The Summit demonstrates our shared dedication to stronger cooperation between Korea and the Pacific Islands Discussion board in help of a safe, peaceable and affluent area,” Mr Marles mentioned.
In Might final 12 months, China shelved its plan to signal a controversial regional settlement with Pacific Island nations.
Australia, South Korea and the US are hoping that Pacific Island nations will stay on their facet when it comes to commerce and defence partnerships.
The discussion board represented “Korea displaying admirable management inside the area during which each of our nations dwell,” Mr Marles advised Channel 7.
“It says lots about how each Korea and Australia are seeing the world in very related phrases. You realize, we each see that our safety lies within the collective safety within the area … “
What’s subsequent for Australia-South Korea relations?
Professor Robertson mentioned the connection wants modernisation, and Australia ought to look to broaden its cultural presence in South Korea.
“A very massive situation is making Australia related,” he mentioned.
“They have to do issues like have extra media interacting with Korea, extra media exchanges, extra exchanges between authorities officers, even suppose tanks, making joint applications between suppose tanks and translating work.”
Within the unlikely scenario that South Korea engaged in armed battle throughout its northern border, Australia and the US would come to its defence.
However Professor Robertson mentioned regardless of North Korea ramping up that rhetoric and nuclear testing, it will not fireplace weapons on the South.
“I do not suppose North Korea actually needs to have interaction in any battle with South Korea, as a result of they may lose,” he mentioned.
PhD pupil Mr Lee mentioned each nations have egocentric causes to return to one another’s help.
“We’re counting on a lot on maritime transport, so if there can be battle within the South China Sea, for instance, each South Korea and Australia wouldn’t be capable of use this maritime communication channel, which implies that there shall be some impression on commerce of each nations.”
With extra reporting by AAP.
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