"Victory Day Should Not Come Before a South Korea-U.S. Summit"
"China's Illegal Structures in the West Sea Are Also a Serious Issue"
Possibility Raised That They Could Be Converted Into Military Facilities Like in the East and South China Seas
Doubts Raised About the Foreign Minister Nominee's Stance on North Korea
Ahn Cheolsu, a member of the People Power Party, urged President Lee Jaemyung to clarify his stance on attending China's Victory Day, the installation of illegal structures in the West Sea, and Japan's use of the name Takeshima. He also expressed concerns about Cho Hyun, the nominee for Minister of Foreign Affairs, regarding the ambiguity of his positions on the South Korea-U.S. alliance and North Korea's nuclear program.
On July 18, Ahn wrote on his Facebook page, "China's Victory Day is an event that commemorates the Chinese military's victory over U.S. forces during the Korean War, and it is no exaggeration to call it a 'ceremony commemorating the invasion of the Republic of Korea.' If the president, who has not even held a South Korea-U.S. summit yet, attends such an event, it could cause significant confusion in the South Korea-U.S. alliance."
Ahn also stated, "China's installation of illegal structures in the West Sea is a serious issue. Not only does it violate the South Korea-China fisheries agreement, but China is also blocking our authorities from verifying the situation. There is a possibility that, as in the East China Sea and South China Sea, these illegal structures could be converted into military facilities." He urged the Lee Jaemyung administration to prioritize national interests above all else in its diplomacy with China.
He further expressed concerns about Cho Hyun, the nominee for Minister of Foreign Affairs. He pointed out that Cho's remarks on the South Korea-U.S. alliance and North Korea's nuclear program during confirmation hearings and other occasions have been ambiguous. He also criticized Cho for a column that appeared to tolerate North Korea's nuclear armament and for saying, "It is a stereotype to think that I must visit the United States first after taking office," calling such statements inappropriate for a chief diplomat.
Finally, Ahn said, "Neighboring countries are closely watching every word spoken by our chief diplomat. The nominee must be cautious in speech and action, and maintain a clear stance on North Korea to prevent any cracks in the South Korea-U.S. alliance." He added, "I also urge efforts to put an end as soon as possible to the labeling of Dokdo as Takeshima in Japan's defense white paper, which has continued for 21 years."
Meanwhile, Ahn Cheolsu has announced his candidacy for the People Power Party convention, which is expected to be held in August. Although he initially accepted the position of innovation committee chair, he abruptly expressed his intention to resign on July 7, just five days after being nominated. At the time, Ahn stated, "I refuse to participate in an innovation committee that was formed without consensus," and added, "I accepted the role out of an urgent desire to help the party, but as the nominee for innovation committee chair, I encountered a huge obstacle before I could even begin the work of innovation."
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