Kang Kyung-hwa "International Order Norms Shaken... Concern Over Zero-Sum Competition and Every-Man-For-Himself Survival"

Announced at the 7th Integrated Subcommittee Meeting on Diplomatic Strategy Adjustment

Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha is speaking at the 7th Integrated Subcommittee Meeting on Foreign Strategy Coordination held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the morning of the 28th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha stated on the 28th, "The war against an invisible virus has highlighted the importance of advanced technologies such as contactless and unmanned systems, and competition among countries to secure technologies that will determine future national competitiveness is expected to intensify further," adding, "The government is closely monitoring related trends and, through public-private collaboration, is carefully analyzing their significance and impact."

In her opening remarks at the 7th Integrated Subcommittee Meeting on Foreign Strategy Coordination held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building at 10:30 a.m. that day, Minister Kang said, "The norms that supported the existing international order are being shaken, and the fluidity of state relations is increasing, raising concerns about zero-sum competition where each pursues self-help."

This meeting, serving as a preparatory session for this year's first Foreign Strategy Coordination Meeting, was attended by Minister Kang, and the meeting was chaired by Cho Se-young, First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs.

The Foreign Strategy Coordination Meeting is a public-private consultative body launched in July last year to establish proactive foreign strategies amid changes in the international situation such as the U.S.-China conflict and Japan's economic retaliation, and to support organic responses between the government and the private sector.

The integrated subcommittee meeting was held to explore South Korea's foreign strategy and response direction amid the intensifying conflict over global hegemony between the U.S. and China. Participants included not only the Ministry of Foreign Affairs but also related ministries such as the Ministry of National Defense, Ministry of Unification, and Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, as well as government-affiliated research institutes like the Korea National Diplomatic Academy and the Agency for Defense Development.

The core agenda was what South Korea's strategy should be in the escalating U.S.-China conflict. Recent developments in the U.S.-China conflict, including China's push to enact the 'Hong Kong National Security Law' and the U.S. Economic Prosperity Network (EPN) initiative, an anti-China economic bloc, as well as the government's response measures, were reported to be the main topics of discussion.

At the 2nd Foreign Strategy Coordination Meeting held on December 30 last year, Minister Kang presented the diplomatic direction as expanded cooperative diplomacy to strengthen cooperation networks with neighboring countries, consistent diplomacy that accumulates practices based on national interests and principles on a case-by-case basis, and strategic economic diplomacy to protect citizens and businesses and secure future competitiveness.