21.05.2021 – 15:15
When South Korean President Moon Jae-in meets with President Biden on Friday at the White House, his request no. 1 will be for coronavirus vaccines.
But the Biden administration is debating with itself whether it should be a staunch US ally facing intensified Chinese aggression. Correct Answer: Yes, it should.
The U.S.-South Korea relationship is complex and there will be several issues facing the two leaders at the summit (Biden’s second after hosting Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga last month).
Biden’s choice of two East Asian leaders as his first guests sends a clear signal that the administration is focused on repairing damaged alliances in that part of the world as part of efforts to counter Beijing’s growing regional power and influence. .
Moon is under strong political pressure back home for vaccines.
Despite being well ahead with testing and tracking, South Korea has vaccinated less than 8 percent of adults with their first stroke, although its cases of covid-19 are on the rise.
Since he does not want to appear empty-handed, Moon has decided to announce $ 25 billion in new high-tech investments in the United States by South Korean companies, to demonstrate the mutual value of the alliance.
But as of Thursday afternoon, various factions of Biden’s team were still debating whether to send Moon home with no vaccines at all.
“Almost every country in the world is very eager to get more vaccines,” a senior administration official told me. “We understand that this is an advantage for them.”
Of course, the United States should not use vaccines for blackmail and coercion, as China does.
But this is not the same as using them to oppose China’s wickedness and to support close friends. Some Biden officials, including many on the National Security Council, believe the United States should send at least some vaccines to suffering friends and allies, especially when there is a clear strategic US interest in doing so.
“We are trying to signal on a range of issues that we are a credible and strong partner and to encourage South Korea to make a major political, technological and strategic investment in us and reposition itself again towards the United States.” , and away from China, said another senior administration official.
Congress is increasingly frustrated by the Biden administration’s slow debate on the vaccine issue, which is causing confusion among allies and giving ground to U.S. opponents. South Korea is just a strained relationship due to a lack of clarity on the US vaccine strategy.
China and Russia have already executed their plans to use vaccines and other pandemic relief to affect US interests on several continents for months.
As the US continues to ‘plan’ and ‘prioritize’ vaccine distribution, China is using its weight and its much less effective vaccines to push countries in need of vaccines to pursue the political goals of China. ”
As for South Korea, there are other ways the Biden administration can strengthen relations.
For example, the administration has not yet appointed anyone to the positions of US ambassador to Seoul, special envoy to North Korea or human rights envoy to North Korea.
Moon is also keen to advance diplomatic efforts with Pyongyang, but Biden’s team has decided to be patient until Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un responds in his starting lineup.
Biden’s team must decide whether the United States wants to continue claiming that geopolitics and pandemics are not inextricably linked.
As an evolving vaccine superpower, the United States can and must help the world and support its allies at the same time.
Translated and adapted by The Washington Post / konica.al
