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Seoul Makes Right Decision on GSOMIA
South Korea’s surprise last minute decision to remain in its GSOMIA military information sharing agreement with Japan is welcome news that provides an opportunity for both nations,
Seoul Makes Right Decision on GSOMIA
South Korea’s surprise last minute decision to remain in its GSOMIA military information sharing agreement with Japan is welcome news that provides an opportunity for both nations,
along with the United States, to exercise forward-looking prudent diplomacy.
President Moon Jae-in should be commended for putting his country’s national security above popular sentiment. Seoul’s decision affirmed the need to maintain strong coordination amongst those countries
President Moon Jae-in should be commended for putting his country’s national security above popular sentiment. Seoul’s decision affirmed the need to maintain strong coordination amongst those countries
facing a common threat from North Korea. South Korea also ended its complaint against Japan at the World Trade Organization. Moon’s actions may generate domestic criticism since they run against strongly held anti-Japanese opinion and will be seen as resulting from
U.S. pressure.
Moon has taken a significant first step back from the precipice of deteriorating South Korean-Japanese relations. But his decision is conditional and potentially temporary. Though denying a package deal, the Japanese trade ministry announced
Moon has taken a significant first step back from the precipice of deteriorating South Korean-Japanese relations. But his decision is conditional and potentially temporary. Though denying a package deal, the Japanese trade ministry announced
it will hold a bureau-level policy dialogue with Seoul regarding its recently imposed export controls on South Korea, the first such meeting in three years.
However, Tokyo must go beyond just attending talks and instead abandon its recently imposed export curbs on South Korea.
However, Tokyo must go beyond just attending talks and instead abandon its recently imposed export curbs on South Korea.
Japan’s justification for the export restrictions do not hold water and were clearly a response to recent South Korean actions on contentious history issues.
The Trump Administration deserves credit for influencing Seoul’s decision, though belatedly and in a heavy-handed manner.
The Trump Administration deserves credit for influencing Seoul’s decision, though belatedly and in a heavy-handed manner.
Earlier and more energetic behind-the-scenes diplomacy should have begun when Seoul abrogated the comfort woman agreement and Supreme Court ruled on history issues.
A lot of crockery has been broken, resulting in strained relations amongst Seoul, Tokyo, and
A lot of crockery has been broken, resulting in strained relations amongst Seoul, Tokyo, and
Washington. South Korea and Japan must remedy their security and economic relations as well as seek to undress long-standing animosity from the brutal 1910-1945 Japanese occupation.
Washington should play an involved though subtler role than it has of late.
Washington should play an involved though subtler role than it has of late.
The Trump Administration should also step back from its insistence on 400 – 500% increases in South Korean and Japanese contributions for the cost of stationing U.S. military forces in their countries.
At a time of growing North Korean and Chinese military threats, the U.S. and its allies should be standing shoulder to shoulder, rather than being at each other’s throats.
