South Korean President Moon Jae-in could be risking a rift with the U.S. by pursuing closer ties with China, according to a top opposition leader.
Joo Ho-young, the legislative floor leader for South Korea’s conservative United Future Party, said in an interview that Moon was being too deferential to China in his efforts to shore up ties. That policy could put Seoul on opposite sides with its key security ally as relations worsen between Washington and Beijing, Joo said.
"Moon cares about Beijing’s ire too much, and that resulted in Seoul being somewhat passive when it comes to taking part in the U.S.’s Indo-Pacific strategy,” Joo said Monday in Seoul, referring to the Trump administration’s effort to bolster its economic and security partnerships in Asia.