Moon Jae-in is a welcome visitor

The timely arrival on Sunday night of South Korean President Moon Jae-in sends a powerful signal that should leave China in no doubt about the futility of its efforts to isolate Australia from our regional trading and strategic partners. For South Korea, there is always a challenge in trying to secure the nation’s interests in the face of constant threats from North Korea, with Beijing frequently often using its influence over the unhinged nuclear regime in Pyongyang as a cat’s paw to pressure the Seoul government.

Beijing, in its zeal to lash out at Australia, would certainly have preferred Mr Moon not to visit. That he has done so, potentially at the cost of incurring Beijing’s wrath, shows the importance of the Seoul-Canberra relationship and the growing significance of South Korea as a strategic partner amid rising tensions in the region. As Scott Morrison pointed out, our relationship with Seoul is “underpinned by trade (South Korea is our third-largest export market), shared (democratic) values, common strategic interests, and a commitment to an open, inclusive and prosperous Indo-Pacific region”.

During the visit, which marks the 60th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties, the relationship will be formally elevated to a “comprehensive strategic partnership”. That should be the forerunner to greater participation by Seoul in the crucial alliances emerging among democracies.

As Bill Paterson, Australia’s former ambassador to North and South Korea wrote last week, Mr Moon’s administration “clearly has weighed the visit against the possibility of incurring Chinese displeasure when China is turning up the heat further on Australia”. Mr Moon deserves praise for going ahead. South Korea has a deep commitment to democracy and shares our commitment to free trade, observance by all countries, including China, of a rules-based order and engagement with multilateral institutions. Issues such as freedom of navigation in the South China Sea and ensuring Taiwan’s status quo in the face of Beijing’s malevolence go to the heart of South Korea’s strategic interests. Seoul has the capability and, increasingly, the intent to play a bigger regional strategic role. Mr Morrison must encourage it to do so.