The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) yesterday congratulated South Korea on a peaceful and democratic presidential election, saying that it would send a blessing to president-elect Yoon Suk-yeol through the “proper channels.”
The ministry also expressed hope that the two nations could deepen cooperation and exchanges, as well as maintain the stability of the Indo-Pacific region.
Conservative South Korean opposition candidate Yoon rode to victory in a tight presidential election on a wave of discontent over economic policy, scandals and gender wars, reshaping the political future of Asia’s fourth-largest economy.
Photo: AFP
His victory in Wednesday’s bitterly fought election marks a stunning turnaround for the main conservative bloc, now known as the People Power Party, which has regrouped since the 2017 snap election after the impeachment and ouster of then-South Korean president Park Geun-hye.
Yoon is a former prosecutor-general involved with Park’s case who fell out with outgoing South Korean President Moon Jae-in after being appointed by him, gaining notoriety for his investigations of top presidential aides.
“The people put me here with hope in my conviction that I have not yielded to any power for fairness and justice for 26 years,” Yoon said in a speech about his career as a prosecutor.
He also pledged to solidify an alliance with the US, build up a powerful military and sternly cope with North Korean provocations.
“I’ll rebuild the South Korea-US alliance. I’ll [make] it a strategic comprehensive alliance while sharing key values like a liberal democracy, a market economy and human rights,” Yoon told a televised news conference.
“I’ll establish a strong military capacity to deter any provocation completely,” Yoon said. “I’ll firmly deal with illicit, unreasonable behavior by North Korea in a principled manner, though I’ll always leave the door for South-North talks open.”
After his election win, he spoke with US President Joe Biden on the phone, who congratulated Yoon on the election and stressed the US’ commitment to the defense of South Korea, a White House statement said.
The two also committed to maintain close coordination on addressing the threats posed by North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs, it added.
Commenting on the election at a symposium in Taipei, Tamkang University China studies professor Anson Hung (洪耀南) said that the key to the victory of Yoon’s People Power Party was the overwhelming support of men aged 20 to 29.
As for relations with Taiwan, Hung said Taipei should not be overly optimistic, as Seoul would continue to prioritize its own interests.
Yoon is to prioritize relations with the US, Taiwan Thinktank deputy executive-general Doong Sy-chi (董思齊) said.
Although Yoon opposed Moon’s pro-China behavior, he is unlikely to alienate China, as the relationship between the two sides still holds significance, Doong added.
However, Yoon has also vowed to increase the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system, which China has deemed a security threat, he said.
During Yoon’s campaign, he stated that foreign policies should have “clear strategies” to mark his difference from Moon, but whether his actions can live up to his promises remains to be seen, he said.
AIR SUPPORT: The Ministry of National Defense thanked the US for the delivery, adding that it was an indicator of the White House’s commitment to the Taiwan Relations Act Deputy Minister of National Defense Po Horng-huei (柏鴻輝) and Representative to the US Alexander Yui on Friday attended a delivery ceremony for the first of Taiwan’s long-awaited 66 F-16C/D Block 70 jets at a Lockheed Martin Corp factory in Greenville, South Carolina. “We are so proud to be the global home of the F-16 and to support Taiwan’s air defense capabilities,” US Representative William Timmons wrote on X, alongside a photograph of Taiwanese and US officials at the event. The F-16C/D Block 70 jets Taiwan ordered have the same capabilities as aircraft that had been upgraded to F-16Vs. The batch of Lockheed Martin
GRIDLOCK: The National Fire Agency’s Special Search and Rescue team is on standby to travel to the countries to help out with the rescue effort A powerful earthquake rocked Myanmar and neighboring Thailand yesterday, killing at least three people in Bangkok and burying dozens when a high-rise building under construction collapsed. Footage shared on social media from Myanmar’s second-largest city showed widespread destruction, raising fears that many were trapped under the rubble or killed. The magnitude 7.7 earthquake, with an epicenter near Mandalay in Myanmar, struck at midday and was followed by a strong magnitude 6.4 aftershock. The extent of death, injury and destruction — especially in Myanmar, which is embroiled in a civil war and where information is tightly controlled at the best of times —
Taiwan was ranked the fourth-safest country in the world with a score of 82.9, trailing only Andorra, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar in Numbeo’s Safety Index by Country report. Taiwan’s score improved by 0.1 points compared with last year’s mid-year report, which had Taiwan fourth with a score of 82.8. However, both scores were lower than in last year’s first review, when Taiwan scored 83.3, and are a long way from when Taiwan was named the second-safest country in the world in 2021, scoring 84.8. Taiwan ranked higher than Singapore in ninth with a score of 77.4 and Japan in 10th with
SECURITY RISK: If there is a conflict between China and Taiwan, ‘there would likely be significant consequences to global economic and security interests,’ it said China remains the top military and cyber threat to the US and continues to make progress on capabilities to seize Taiwan, a report by US intelligence agencies said on Tuesday. The report provides an overview of the “collective insights” of top US intelligence agencies about the security threats to the US posed by foreign nations and criminal organizations. In its Annual Threat Assessment, the agencies divided threats facing the US into two broad categories, “nonstate transnational criminals and terrorists” and “major state actors,” with China, Russia, Iran and North Korea named. Of those countries, “China presents the most comprehensive and robust military threat
RSS