한국과 일본의 대 아세안 안보정책 - 신남방정책과 자유롭고 개방된 인도･태평양 비전, 그리고 역외 중간국의 전략적 영향력 -

Abstract

This study analyzes the regional security policies of South Korea and Japan. The geopolitical competition between the U.S. and China has enhanced the strategic position of the so- called middle states and has additionally imposed considerable regional security challenges. While focusing on the strategic influence in the middle zone, this study analyzes the regional security policies both of the governments of South Korea's Moon Jae-in and the cabinet of Japan's Abe Shinzo, which was revealed in the former’s New Southern Policy (NSP) and the latter’s Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) Vision. Firstly, it reveals what kind of geopolitical codes are embedded in those regional security policies (section 2). It then analyzes both countries’ upward approaches, i.e. the responses to the U.S. Indo-Pacific strategy (section 3) and the downward approaches, i.e. the main features of security cooperation toward the ASEAN countries (section 4). This work provides the following implications. Firstly, although both countries’ progress at security cooperation has contributed towards the improvement of the intermediary security networks, it is unlikely to be a valid prescription to ease the tension between these two giants. Secondly, it is desirable for Seoul and Tokyo to act as strong advocates to help further consolidate the ASEAN centrality rather than actively participating in the U.S.-led Indo-Pacific strategy. Finally, the two sides should pursue partnerships with countries that have varied political systems, not merely a united front with like-minded democracies.