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oundtable • non-claimant perspectives on the south china sea
Despite these recent clarifications by the president and defense
minister, South Korea’s position on the disputes in the South China Sea has
been quite vague and ambivalent. While South Korea does not claim any
territories in the South China Sea and has no direct military or strategic
interests there, to fully understand the country’s position, it is important to
understand what stakes the ROK does have in the resolution of the current
disputes. This essay examines these issues and draws implications for South
Korea’s relations with both the United States and China.
South Korea’s Economic and Diplomatic Interests in the South China Sea
Though lacking direct strategic and military interests in the region,
South Korea nevertheless has huge economic interests in the South China
Sea. As the world’s sixth-largest trading nation by volume, it is highly
dependent on the free flow of goods. In 2014, more than 1.1 billion tons of
its trade passed through the South China Sea. South Korea is also highly
dependent on energy resources from overseas. Approximately 86% of its
oil consumption is supplied by imports from the Middle East, almost all of
which must transit the South China Sea. 3 In sum, any undesirable events in
the South China Sea or a consequential blockade of its sea lanes would be
devastating to the South Korean economy.
The ROK’s diplomatic interests in the region are just as important as
trade. First, in recent years, South Korea has developed a close partnership
with the Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN) countries,
and two of the most vocal South China Sea claimants—the Philippines
and Vietnam—are ASEAN members. South Korea fears that when it
discusses security cooperation with the ASEAN countries, its position
on the disputes may be on the agenda, which is likely to put it in an
awkward position. Additionally, South Korea frequently calls on ASEAN
countries for support on Korean Peninsula issues such as North Korean
denuclearization. If some ASEAN countries were to ask it to support
ASEAN’s position on the South China Sea disputes in return for their
supporting South Korea on the Korean Peninsula, then Seoul would face
a dilemma.
3 “Namjung-gughae ginjang gojo…Suchul-ib hanglo maghilkka choggag” [Rising Tension in South
China Sea…Maritime Trade Route in Danger], Yonhap News Agency, October 28, 2015 u
http://www.yonhapnews.co.kr/bulletin/2015/10/28/0200000000AKR20151028212600003.HTML;
and Ministry of Foreign Affairs (ROK) website u http://www.mofa.go.kr/ENG/policy/energy/
overview/energy/index.jsp?menu=m_20_130_10&tabmenu=t_3.
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