SEOUL, South Korea will seek to expand maritime security cooperation in the Indian Ocean and the Pacific as part of efforts to implement its own Indo-Pacific strategy crafted to contribute to regional peace and stability, a senior foreign ministry official said Tuesday.
First Vice Foreign Minister Chang Ho-jin made the remarks at a forum, highlighting South Korea’s “unwavering commitment” to doing its part for a peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.
“Over the last 12 months, government ministries and agencies have put their heads together to design the action plans (for the Indo-Pacific strategy),” Chang said at the pan-government forum held to mark the launch of the strategy a year ago.
First Vice Foreign Minister Chang Ho-jin delivers a keynote speech during a forum on South Korea’s Indo-Pacific strategy at the foreign ministry in Seoul on Dec. 19, 2023.
“In pursuit of peace in the Indo-Pacific, the ROK will expand comprehensive security cooperation, including in maritime security … We plan to establish a maritime domain awareness platform, which will boost information sharing among regional countries,” Chang said, referring to South Korea by its official name, the Republic of Korea.
Such efforts will help “eradicate illegal fishing” by supporting capacity building for Southeast Asian and Pacific island countries, Chang said.
In December last year, the Yoon Suk Yeol government unveiled the strategy committed to promoting freedom, peace and prosperity through the establishment of a rules-based order under the principles of inclusiveness, trust and reciprocity.
It seeks to pursue nine core tasks related to building a rules-based regional order and comprehensive security cooperation, enhancing economic security through cooperation in science technology, and climate change cooperation, and engaging in development cooperation partnerships.
Chang said the government also plans to launch various types of Indo-Pacific consultative bodies with major partner countries to promote democracy and a rules-based order.
South Korea will offer to forge “tailored” development cooperation partnerships with countries in need and double its official development assistance to the Pacific island countries by 2027 to help build a foundation for sustainable growth.
A new regional cooperation fund for the South Asia and Indian Ocean region will be created to achieve these goals, among other plans, Chang said.
“Our action plan will serve as a cornerstone, anchoring a strategic and robust footing. This is a long exhaustive list of the ROK’s commitment to the Indo-Pacific,” he said.
Source: Yonhap News Agency