YDS 2021 in Review

by Chloe Marriott | YDS Regional Correspondent
As the world sets upon the road to recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic, East
Asia once again has restored its position at the forefront of technological
development, competition and regional investment. However, the region continues
to be defined by an increasingly aggressive China, with the majority of foreign policy
throughout Asia becoming reactionary. As this authoritarian influence in the region
continues to spread, democracy becomes even harder to instil in an already
struggling region. Any and all attempts to counter China’s bid for regional
dominance are imperative to ensure regional security and are essential in aiding
East Asia’s recovery in a post-pandemic world.
Here are six key developments that occurred in East Asia throughout 2021 that will
continue to shape the future of the region:
1 : I N T E R - K O R E A N C O N F L I C T
Following the destruction of the Korean Joint Liaison Office in Kaesong that ended
formal ties between North and South Korea in 2020, relations have suffered from an
extended lull. With major parties to the conflict, including the US and China,
frequently butting heads, what little progress is made can easily be undone.
Communication largely consists of each side accusing the other of pursuing “hostile
policies” and engaging in aggressive displays of military prowess via missile testing
across the peninsula. South Korean President Moon Jae-In has repeatedly
emphasised his proposal for a declaration to end the Korean War but attempts have
been complicated by rumoured North Korean famine and Supreme Leader Kim Jong
Un’s speculated health concerns. Most recently, the Kim family reciprocated interest
in an inter-Korean summit in September to restore mutual trust. However, such a
prospect should be met with cautious optimism. With Moon’s term expiring in early
2022, the two states will enter the new year without any agreement to halt North
Korea’s nuclear weapons program and without the global community lifting
sanctions on an increasingly troublesome state.
2 : S O U T H C H I N A S E A C O N F L I C T
The disputed territory of the South China Sea remains one of the most crucial
challenges for maintaining peace and security throughout the East Asia region.
Negotiations to establish a South China Sea Code of Conduct (COC) have been
significantly delayed due to worsening COVID-19 outbreaks in affected countries.
mportantly, any COC must establish geographic boundaries for states that are
compatible with international law, effective monitoring and compliance mechanisms
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