Trump’s foreign policy lineup mounts challenges for Seoul
With an atypical pick for secretary of state, US President-elect Donald Trump is forecast to abate his predecessor’s refocus toward Asia while toughening the stance against North Korea over its nuclear program.
The billionaire real estate magnate picked ExxonMobil Chief Executive Rex Tillerson to be his secretary of state Tuesday. The announcement effectively completed his foreign policy team, which includes Secretary of Defense-designate retired Marine Gen. James Mattis and Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs-nominee retired Army Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, who ran the Defense Intelligence Agency until 2014.
While Trump has yet to present any of his diplomatic and security visions, the nominations are further magnifying uncertainties over Washington’s policy on the Korean Peninsula and the region in general.
His phone call with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen earlier this month, together with a series of ensuing tweets, threatened to overturn decades of US support for the “One China” policy. Tillerson, who has no foreign policy experience, has close ties with Moscow and is likely to apply a business perspective to diplomacy.
Washington’s North Korea policy would hinge on its relations with China. As the Trump administration presses China over economic and other issues, Beijing may move to embrace Pyongyang such as by loosening its implementation of sanctions, observers say.
“The combination of Trump and Tillerson could mean that the incoming government would carry out diplomacy from a more strictly reciprocal, business point of view,” an official at the Foreign Ministry here said.
Another official showed a more reserved stance, saying Trump has not presented any concrete policy views and Washington’s Asia policy would take shape after the appointment of assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs and others in the team.
Trump said Tillerson would make an “excellent” secretary, lauding his “tenacity, broad experience and deep understanding of geopolitics,” while Tillerson vowed to uphold alliances.
“He will promote regional stability and focus on the core national security interests of the United States,” Trump said in a statement.
“We must focus on strengthening our alliances, pursuing shared national interests and enhancing the strength, security and sovereignty of the United States,” Tillerson said, adding he shares the president-elect’s vision for “restoring the credibility of the US’ foreign relations and advancing our country’s national security.”
By Shin Hyon-hee (heeshin@heraldcorp.com)
相关推荐
- 最近发表
-
- Weather update for second Pak vs Ban second Test match day one
- [INTERVIEW] Unraveling North Korea's vilification of Syngman Rhee
- Here's how Facebook and GIPHY became friends again
- N. Korean workers refuse to go to work in Dandong: Seoul expert
- Flying spaghetti monster and unworldly life filmed in deep sea footage
- Experts suggest North Korea's recent silence indicates depleted weapons inventories
- Man attempts to hide from TV camera, fails spectacularly
- Barty enjoys awesome US Open tune
- N. Korea test
- Formula One announces new award for overtaking
- 随机阅读
-
- New image shows the North Star is changing. And it has spots.
- 19 minimalist tattoos that will make you want to book an appointment now
- Prosecutors raided POSCO over alleged corruption
- Rights advocates call for renewed focus on North Korea 10 years after UN report
- Foreign, multicultural students rise amid declining school population
- N. Korean hackers ramp up efforts to funnel overseas funds into nuclear, missile programs
- Barack Obama's post
- Steward from 'nut rage' case gets industrial accident compensation
- 24 Museums Dedicated to Black History
- Leaked photos purportedly show Fitbit's upcoming smartwatch
- Five former presidents get together — without Trump — to pledge help for Texas
- N.K. urges Seoul to reveal info about 3 hopefuls for defection
- 高温难耐,工会驿站化身“清凉小屋”
- 19 minimalist tattoos that will make you want to book an appointment now
- Ronaldo is staying at Juve, says Allegri
- Five to watch at the Tokyo Paralympics
- 阳江村K开麦,阳西3人晋级!
- N. Korean workers refuse to go to work in Dandong: Seoul expert
- 打造珠海海洋牧场建设精品样板工程,“格盛1号”深远海养殖平台下水
- Google's new bet to win India's next billion users: speaking Indian languages
- 搜索
-
- 友情链接
-