Explicit 'Anti-China Bloc' Plan, Pompeo Targets ASEAN Meeting Next Week

Attending Ministerial Meeting from 9th to 11th... US Plans to Expand Security Dialogue with India, Japan, Australia, and Others
As Efforts to Curb China's Expansion Accelerate, South Korean Government Faces Growing Dilemma

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young, New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] As the United States accelerates efforts to expand participation in the ‘Quad’ security dialogue involving India, Japan, and Australia?part of its Indo-Pacific strategy aimed at curbing China’s expansion?the South Korean government is facing growing concerns. Since recently expressing its intention to expand the ‘Quad’ security dialogue, the U.S. has effectively pressured South Korea to join through statements by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, intensifying the pressure.

The U.S. plan to form an anti-China bloc, which has expanded from trade to military, political, and security domains, is expected to take clearer shape at the upcoming series of ASEAN-related foreign ministerial meetings next week. The U.S. is highly likely to openly request ASEAN countries as well as South Korea to participate in a multilateral security organization similar to NATO in Europe. On the 3rd, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs denied receiving any participation requests from the U.S., but with Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha scheduled to attend the ASEAN-related foreign ministerial meetings, the burden on South Korea appears significant.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The U.S. has already begun setting the tone. On the 2nd (local time), the U.S. State Department announced in a press release that Secretary Pompeo will attend the ASEAN-related ministerial meetings held virtually from the 9th to the 11th. Pompeo is scheduled to participate in the virtual U.S.-ASEAN ministerial meeting, the East Asia Summit (EAS), the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), the Mekong-U.S. Partnership Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, as well as hold bilateral talks with ASEAN foreign ministers.

The State Department elaborated, "Secretary Pompeo will attend the 27th ARF Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on the 11th, reaffirm the importance of peace and security on the Korean Peninsula, and emphasize the U.S. efforts and investments to advance the agenda on women, peace, and security in the Indo-Pacific region."

The State Department particularly expressed its intention to share details of U.S. efforts to address priorities in the Indo-Pacific region, support a free and open region based on sovereignty and pluralism, effectively targeting China. At a press briefing that day, Secretary Pompeo stated, "We will discuss COVID-19, the South China Sea, and the Rohingya issue in Myanmar during this meeting." Except for the Rohingya issue, all topics relate to China. This has led to speculation that Pompeo will use both multilateral meetings involving the U.S. and China and bilateral talks with ASEAN countries to check China and consolidate ASEAN forces.

David Stilwell, Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, who also spoke at the briefing, sharply criticized China’s activities in the South China Sea, calling China "the most serious violator of the Law of the Sea Convention," and expressed the intention to form an anti-China alliance with ASEAN countries by raising the South China Sea issue.

Additionally, U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, who attended the 75th anniversary ceremony of the end of World War II held in Hawaii, emphasized ‘broader cooperation’ and ‘strengthening partnerships with allies including South Korea.’ Secretary Esper said, “We will continue to build new partnerships and strengthen existing ones,” mentioning allies such as South Korea, Japan, Australia, ASEAN countries, India, and New Zealand.

Esper further stressed that the expansion and deepening of the network must continue, stating, “We welcome countries that have benefited from today’s international system joining the effort.” This is interpreted as a clear call for existing allies and related countries to participate in strengthening cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region and related initiatives.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.