On March 16, the South Korean market released data showing that gasoline prices across the country soared, with the average price rising to 2,000 won (more than 10 yuan) per liter, the highest price in South Korea in nine and a half years.
Directly related to the price of gasoline is the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, under the leadership of the United States, South Korea followed the trend of sanctions, was blacklisted by Russia, and directly impacted South Korea's oil and energy imports.
A few days ago, at the request of the Ukrainian authorities, the South Korean government also finalized a list of supplies to provide assistance to Ukraine, stressing that it would not assist in weapons of mass destruction, South Korea promised to transport more than 20 materials to the Ukrainian military, including bulletproof helmets, food, blankets, tents, and emergency kits for medicines.
It is obvious that the South Korean government's high-profile support for Ukraine will further stalemate with Russia. Originally, South Korea was one of the most reluctant countries to sanction Russia, but under the pressure of the United States, south Korea could only drop watermelons, pick up sesame seeds, and launch positive sanctions against Russia in order to save some of the business in the domestic semiconductor industry.
In the Asia-Pacific region, India has always been a neutral economy that has not been deadlocked with Russia, and South Koreans seem to be jealous of the situation in India and South Korea.
Two days earlier, indian officials had announced that the Modi government was prepared to buy russian discounted oil, as well as a variety of other goods. International oil prices have risen by 40 percent this year, and India relies on imports for 80 percent of its oil, but Russia's oil imports are less than 3 percent.
Indian officials pointed out that in order to cope with Western sanctions, Russia is now engaged in discounting activities, and the price paid to India is also "satisfactory", so in order to alleviate India's energy pressure and increase Russian oil imports, it may become the government's first choice.
Seeing that India could buy Russian discounted oil, the South Korean media quickly exploded. South Korean media reported that in the Plan of Western Sanctions, India has exploited loopholes and is now "taking advantage of the void" to buy Russian discounted oil, and the Modi government is "secretly supporting" Russia.
Another South Korean media analysis said that India not only refused to condemn Russia at the United Nations many times, but now also has to be Russia's "ventilation hole", as one of the members of the United States to lead the containment of China, India is showing off its "intimate relationship" with Russia, which may greatly affect the effect of Western sanctions.
Before Indian officials revealed an increase in Russian energy imports, the two sides also plan to open up channels for direct exchange of currencies between the two countries and establish a payment system between the Indian rupee and the Russian ruble.
The Russian-Ukrainian conflict and Western sanctions directly impact the world economy, military and energy system, and the decision-making of each country will affect the world pattern. Just as many European countries have begun to strengthen their militaries, India's insistence on maintaining ties with Russia is also playing a key role.
The Russian-Ukrainian conflict highlights the importance of a country's military autonomy, and the United States dominates sanctions, revealing the power of dollar hegemony, and the world will certainly learn something from this experience. Independence, strengthening oneself, developing multilateral diplomacy, and promoting "de-dollarization" will become the right way to gain universal consensus in the world.
South Korea is anxious to see that India can buy Russia's discounted oil, obviously because it is difficult to be independent on many issues, which is a typical feature of long-term mixing with the United States and being "kidnapped" by the US garrison.
Choosing to live under the fence is to adapt to acting in the eyes of people, and a country is politically, militarily, and even economically, subject to another country, and life will certainly not be good.
Although India as a whole is much poorer than South Korea, at least diplomatically, Indians are probably more autonomous and more upright than Koreans. We cannot abandon our original partners because of external coercion, which is also applicable in terms of human beings.
Of course, different choices will have different costs, India has also been sanctioned by the United States, but it will also gain more friends, and there will be more possibilities for development in the future. The price that South Korea has to pay is not only economic losses, huge diplomatic losses, but also difficult to get through the days of "sending people under the fence".
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