Joint Declaration on Checks Expected at Quad Summit... South Korea's Diplomatic Efforts with Working Group Participation

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo In-ho, New York=Special Correspondent Jo Seul-gi] The Quad summit meeting, consisting of the United States, Japan, Australia, and India, was held on the 24th in Tokyo, Japan.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Following the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF), another cooperative body aimed at countering China was discussed on this day. South Korea is also expected to accelerate its participation in the Quad working group.

According to the White House on the 23rd (local time), the in-person meeting of the four Quad leaders is the first in about eight months since September 24 of last year. At this meeting, a declaration is expected to be made to counter and jointly respond to China, which has been openly showing military ambitions in the Indo-Pacific region. The prolonged Ukraine invasion situation will also be discussed.

NHK reported, "The four leaders will confirm their engagement in the Indo-Pacific through a joint statement, strongly supporting principles such as freedom, the rule of law, as well as sovereignty and territorial integrity, and emphasize their intention to promote these principles in other regions as well."

This is interpreted as a message to counter China's ambition to forcibly unify Taiwan while criticizing Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Major foreign media reported that in order to reach a joint agreement with India, which continues its pro-Russian stance, direct criticism of Russia is unlikely to be included. India has previously not participated in the economic sanctions against Russia led by the United States and other Western countries.

In addition, cooperation plans focusing on six areas?space, infrastructure, cyber, COVID-19 vaccine supply, technology, and climate change?will be discussed. Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported that at this meeting, the four countries will agree to strengthen each country's satellite surveillance capabilities in the space sector and share surveillance information obtained from satellites.

The South Korean government is strongly expressing its intention to participate in the Quad in some form.

Since formal membership in the Quad is practically difficult, the direction has shifted to participation at a lower level, the working group.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

A senior official from the Presidential Office stated, "We plan to soon participate in the working groups on climate change and new technologies, in addition to the pandemic," expressing active participation intentions. The Yoon Seok-yeol administration is conducting diplomatic persuasion targeting ambassadors from India, Australia, Japan, and local governments, mainly through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The United States, which leads the Quad, has not hastily decided on South Korea's participation because the positions of member countries such as Japan, India, and Australia differ. While the U.S. welcomes South Korea's gradual Quad membership, it views immediate membership as difficult since South Korea cannot immediately obtain the consent of all four member countries.

A senior U.S. official recently said during a briefing with the White House press corps, "Currently, we are not considering adding South Korea to the Quad. Our goal now is to develop and strengthen what the Quad has already presented rather than accepting new members." This has been interpreted as not giving a definite answer regarding participation in the lowered-level Quad working group.

India is also known to have reservations about expanding Quad membership itself. Japan is also reported to be unwelcoming of South Korea's membership. Japan has reportedly opposed South Korea's membership citing reasons such as the potential loss of leadership within the Quad.

However, from a mid- to long-term perspective, South Korea's membership is not entirely impossible. After the Quad member countries accept South Korea's participation in the working group and South Korea actively participates through this, formal membership may become possible in the future.

Especially if countering China aligns with the national interests of these countries, the possibility of acceptance cannot be ruled out. The Washington Post (WP) reported, "The Quad is based on a 'free and open Indo-Pacific,' but an unstated priority is to counter China's rise."

President Biden hinted at military intervention if China invades Taiwan during a press conference immediately after the U.S.-Japan summit the previous day.