South Korean President Moon Jae-in ended a three-nation tour of Southeast Asia, his biggest push yet to increase engagement with the fast-growing region – overtures experts believe are well needed at a time of heightened concern over US-China competition in the area.
Moon visited Thailand, Myanmar and Laos, signing a number of high-profile deals that included a military intelligence pact with Bangkok, a US$1bn aid offer to Naypyidaw and business partnerships with Vientiane, where he became the first South Korean president to make a state visit.
His trip indicates the widening scope of South Korea’s Asian diplomacy. Previously, Seoul focused its regional foreign policy efforts on North Asia and Russia, but under Moon, the nation is looking to elevate ties with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in an attempt to diversify its economic relationships and reduce its reliance on China.