The arrival of South Korea’s former defence minister in Canberra this week has made headlines in Seoul, where the opposition accused him of fleeing the country.
Former South Korean defence minister Lee Jong-sup in Seoul last year.Mr Lee, the country’s defence chief from 2022 to 2023, is being investigated by South Korea’s Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials over allegations he interfered in a probe into the death of a marine during a search and rescue mission during floods last year.
South Korea’s opposition liberal Democratic Party has accused President Yoon of helping Mr Lee escape overseas. Party members protested at Seoul’s Incheon Airport when Mr Lee flew out for Canberra on Sunday.However, analysts and government sources in Seoul said Mr Lee’s appointment should be viewed in the context of South Korea’s deepening defence relations with Australia. It is rare for Seoul to appoint a former minister to any diplomatic posting, let alone Canberra.
Anthony Albanese has not yet visited South Korea as prime minster, although Defence Minister Richard Marles went there last year, and Resources MinisterThe choice of envoy, said to be a personal pick by Mr Yoon, is the latest move by his government to prioritise relations with neighbour Japan and Australia as a hedge against a potentially, less-friendly US – its key ally – if Donald Trump were to win the November 5 presidential election.
“Australia’s foreign policy shows that standing up for stability in the Taiwan Strait and maritime security in Asia, and standing against economic coercion in the region, are not unilateral-led attempts to gang up on China, but rather common efforts for maintaining a rules-based order.”
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