Summary:
Biden administration's response to the South Korean coup is criticized as limp and uninspired.
The coup's chaos stems from a political scandal rather than elite conflict.
Yoon's self-coup lacked parliamentary support and was quickly reversed.
The events highlight a failure of Biden's Indo-Pacific strategy which embraced Yoon despite his anti-democratic actions.
Alignment with American revisionism has taken precedence over democratic values in U.S. foreign policy.
A Paradox of American Hegemony
Jean Baudrillard’s 1986 travel diary of his time in Reagan’s America describes a paradox about the nature of late-century American hegemony. He noted that American power seemed to lack a guiding genius, instead being uncontested and incontestable. Today, however, American adversaries abound, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region.
The Limp Response to the Coup
The recent coup in South Korea has shown a stark lack of strategic rationale from the Biden administration. The response has been tepid, with the State Department merely asserting that the alliance with South Korea is "ironclad". Meanwhile, President Yoon Suk Yeol's self-coup appears chaotic and lacks support even from his own party, relying instead on military backing.
The Political Crisis
The coup's driving force is rooted in a political crisis triggered not by elite conflict but by a scandal involving a Dior handbag accepted by Yoon’s wife. His failed bid for martial law, lacking parliamentary support, resulted in a swift reversal by morning, leaving his political future in jeopardy.
Implications for Biden’s Indo-Pacific Policy
This coup is a fitting climax to Biden’s Indo-Pacific strategy, which prioritized detente with China over democratic values. The Biden administration's key achievement has been the trilateral pact with Japan and South Korea, aimed at countering China, despite Yoon's evident disregard for democracy.
A New Normative Standard
Under both the Trump and Biden administrations, alignment with American revisionism has become paramount, often overshadowing adherence to a rules-based order. Yoon’s anti-democratic tendencies were tolerated as part of a broader strategy to counter China, illustrating a shift in foreign policy priorities.
Conclusion
The events in South Korea mark a significant moment in the Biden administration's foreign policy, showcasing the tensions between democratic values and strategic interests in a rapidly changing geopolitical landscape.
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