The G7 summit is about to be held in Italy in mid-June, and South Korea, which has been preparing for a long time, has not waited for an invitation letter, but India may become a "guest of honor", which has made countless South Koreans "break the defense" again, is the dream of becoming the "new G8" doomed to be shattered?
South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol
As is customary at the G7 summit, the annual presidency has the right to invite unofficial member states to participate in the G7 summit as "observers", and since 2020, South Korea has been invited to participate three times, giving South Korea the illusion that it has been favored by the G7 countries and can get the opportunity to "join the group".
The South Korean media "JoongAng Ilbo" even boasted that "after South Korea joins, the new G-8 can replace the United Nations." It is clear, however, that even if South Korea joins, the new G-8 will never be able to replace the functions of the United Nations. The particularity of the United Nations lies in the Security Council, and the core of the Security Council lies in the five permanent members.
The five major powers of China, the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, and France are the heart of the United Nations, with an unshakable veto power, and are the real decision-making center of the Security Council.
G7 Leaders
The same is true for the G7 countries, and whether South Korea joins or not, this "club of developed countries" is not enough to replace the functions of the United Nations. In addition to exposing their ignorance, the South Korean media's statement can only be regarded as a comfort for self-amusement. However, South Korea is serious about joining the G7.
Since Yoon Suk-yeol came to power, South Korea's foreign policy has abandoned its previous line of seeking a balance between China and the United States, and has instead chosen to lean toward the United States and Western countries and actively move closer to the G7 countries. South Korean diplomat Yoon Deok-min once bluntly said: "South Korea very much wants to join the new Group of Eight (G8), and South Korea's comprehensive national strength has reached the standard of G7 members." ”
He also said that by joining the G7, South Korea can clearly state its diplomatic position, which is also an "international cooperation line" as a developed country, which will make South Korea a "non-wavering" country, but the biggest obstacle at present is that it is difficult for South Korea to win Japan's support in this matter.
South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida
Yoon Demin's remarks were very direct, and the signals sent to the outside world were also very clear: First, South Korea believes that its strength has reached the threshold of the G7 and hopes that the G7 will give it a chance; second, it has expressed its loyalty in advance, and if it can join the G7, it will completely tilt towards the United States and the West on the diplomatic line and no longer insist on neutrality.
The third is to point the finger at Japan, implying that because of Japan's opposition, South Korea has not received the G7 invitation letter for a long time. The Japanese Prime Minister personally came forward to explain this, bluntly saying that there is no plan to expand the G7 at present, so there is no question of "Japan's opposition to South Korea's accession." A spokesman for the U.S. State Department also said that the G7 members have not yet discussed the expansion.
The repeated denials by the United States and Japan are tantamount to indirectly breaking South Korea's illusions, and Italy's current refusal is tantamount to directly declaring that South Korea is not qualified to play at the table. South Korea thinks that it can become a member of the "new G-8" by virtue of its economic strength, but it has forgotten that the G7 is no longer a simple economic organization, but a political bloc.
尹锡悦在白宫为拜登“献唱”
Since South Korea chose to lean toward the United States, even at the cost of harming Sino-South Korean relations, to curry favor with the United States and the West, it has lost the value of strategic cooperation in the eyes of the G7 countries. To put it bluntly, how can a puppet who can be easily manipulated get the attention of the other party?
In the final analysis, South Korea's only way out lies in balancing the pressure exerted by the United States on South Korea's political and economic spheres by expanding cooperation with China in the economic field. The main reason why South Korea still lacks international influence after its economic rise is that it is constrained by the United States.
How can the ROK gain the respect of other countries if it has put a shackle on itself and is willing to act as an "agent" of the United States? Seeking to join the G7 is nothing more than putting a new shackle on itself, locking in the independence of the ROK in seeking diplomatic autonomy and losing its dignity as a sovereign state.
South Korea hosts so-called "Summit for Democracy"
All in all, if South Korea wants to enhance its international influence, it should not think about taking shortcuts and joining various small circles through gangs, which is destined to be unacceptable. Only by developing one's own strength in a down-to-earth manner, independently choosing the development path that best suits one's own interests, and handling relations with neighboring countries in a rational and pragmatic manner can we be the right way.