| Summary: | 碩士 === 國立政治大學 === 外交學系戰略與國際事務碩士在職專班 === 107 === The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) grabbed the world’s attention upon its inception; meanwhile, Western countries have successively joined the Asian Infrastructure Bank (AIIB), which is designed to finance BRI projects. Influenced by the global trend of economic fragmentation, South Korea is playing an active role in the BRI, launched by China, South Korea’s top trading partner, despite opposition from the US, out of economic and political concerns. Three years after the BRI was introduced, South Korea remains an active player in the AIIB; it hosted the 2nd AIIB annual meeting, and keeps funding the bank, aiming to attract investment from the AIIB in the Korean Peninsula’s infrastructure projects by drawing the international community’s attention in this area. In terms of transportation facilities, with the extension of the China Railway Express and the Maritime Silk Road, which span from Northeast Asia to the Middle East, Europe, and Africa, Korean logistic service providers are prompted to seize new business opportunities on land and sea routes. In terms of the docking of Korean companies and Chinese industrial chains, several Sino-ROK industrial parks have been set up in Huizhou, Yancheng, and Yentai, where signatures industries and technologies were successfully integrated. The docking of Korean and Chinese industries not only mitigates the economic impact on South Korea brought by the rise of China, but also wins Chinese investment in South Korea’s emerging industries. However, in the diplomatic aspect, other players in Asia, such as Russia, India, and Southeast Asian states, are seeking to cooperate with China on the BRI as well, squeezing South Korea’s room for diplomatic maneuver. In response, Moon Jae-in, South Korean’s president, unveiled the New Southern Policy and New Northern Policy, which, according to Seoul, aim to expand the country’s economic reach westward and northward in line with the BRI; however, the actual purpose is to involve Russia, India, and ASEAN in the Korean Peninsula issues, lest Pyongyang keep strengthening its relations with China and become de facto a province of China.
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