Author: AsiaOne

On Wednesday, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said India aims to broaden its strategic ties with South Korea, focusing on critical technologies and semiconductors. Jaishankar’s goal in visiting South Korea and Japan is to strengthen ties between the two countries and look into potential areas of cooperation.

Co-chairing the 10th India-South Korea Joint Commission Meeting in Seoul, Jaishankar emphasised expanding cooperation in defence, science, technology, and trade. Focusing on trilateral cooperation and Indo-Pacific trends, discussions covered a wide range of topics, including people-to-people interactions and cultural cooperation.

S Jaishankar highlighted the special strategic partnership established during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 2015 visit, stressing the need to explore new areas like nuclear cooperation and supply chain resilience. He noted growing alignment on international issues, particularly in the Indo-Pacific.

Expressing optimism, Jaishankar highlighted the importance of translating goodwill into tangible outcomes, drawing on previous meetings for guidance. He congratulated Cho Tae-yul on his appointment as foreign minister and discussed cultural ties during his visit to Gimhae City.

Queen Heo Hwang-ok’s depiction of the relationship between Ayodhya and Korea highlights the profound historical and cultural ties that exist between the two countries.

South Korea and the United States have appointed envoys, Lee Tae-woo and Linda Specht, respectively, to initiate talks on cost-sharing for American troops stationed in South Korea. The action is unusually early for a contract that is scheduled to start in 2026; it could be an attempt to reach an agreement prior to Donald Trump’s possible reelection as US president.

Since the early 1990s, South Korea has been paying for local labour and military sites to offset the costs of 28,500 American troops stationed there as a deterrent to North Korea.

Both nations aim to strengthen their defence posture and alliance through these talks. While no date is set for negotiations, South Korea’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Lim Soo-suk, highlighted the need for advanced preparation due to the historical length of negotiations.

During Trump’s presidency, tensions arose over cost-sharing, with Trump pushing South Korea to pay up to $5 billion annually. The upcoming talks could potentially extend the Special Measures Agreement beyond 2026, anticipating Trump’s return. Past negotiations saw prolonged discussions, with Seoul eventually agreeing to a 13.9% increase in its contribution, the largest in nearly two decades.

On Tuesday, presumed Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto assured a smooth power transition and hinted at privatising state-run enterprises while keeping key sectors under government control. He foresees potential 8% annual economic growth over the next few years. Prabowo advocates for a balanced approach where the state regulates strategic areas but allows the private sector to thrive.

Prabowo proposes rationalising and privatising state-owned enterprises, emphasising the need for private dominance in various sectors. He vows to continue Joko Widodo’s infrastructure modernization and plans to improve tax ratios without increasing taxes.

Addressing fiscal concerns, he suggests widening the fiscal gap to 2.8% of GDP while maintaining fiscal prudence. In addition, he promises to welcome and safeguard both domestic and foreign investments, seeks to achieve food self-sufficiency, and hopes to export food within four years.

Prabowo acknowledges the difficulties of democracy, calling it “very, very tiring” and messy, yet he suggests room for improvement without elaborating. After winning his third presidential run with the help of Joko Widodo’s influence, he is scheduled to take office in October, drawing criticism for unfair advantages and electoral influence. The official election outcome is due by March 20, marking Prabowo’s potential confirmation as president.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is set to address a joint U.S. Congress session on April 11 during his official visit to Washington, which marks the first address by a Japanese leader in nine years.

Scheduled to meet President Joe Biden and attend a state dinner on April 10, Kishida aims to reaffirm Japan’s alliance with the United States amidst challenges from China and North Korea.

Kishida’s visit highlights the commitment to peace, prosperity, and global democracy shared by both nations. The topics of discussion will include bolstering cooperation in economic security, outer space, and emerging technologies, along with trilateral collaboration involving South Korea and multilateral engagement with like-minded partners.

House Speaker Mike Johnson emphasised the importance of condemning tyranny and championing freedom worldwide.

In a letter to Kishida, bipartisan leaders expressed anticipation for enhanced collaboration, both in the Indo-Pacific and globally. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi highlighted the speech’s significance in strengthening Japan-U.S. ties.

In addition, Kishida, representing Hiroshima, might discuss his support for nuclear disarmament. Considering Japan’s dependence on the U.S. nuclear umbrella, attention will be focused on Kishida’s position, in contrast to Shinzo Abe’s 2015 speech, which acknowledged regret for wartime conduct.