[Session 2] Values or Interests?

Session: Session 2
Date/Time: April 24, 2019 / 10:45-12:15

Moderator:
J.James Kim, The Asan Institute for Policy Studies

Speakers:
Kent E. Calder, School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University
Fujisaki Ichiro, Nakasone Peace Institute
Gao Fei, China Foreign Affairs University
Linda Jakobson, China Matters
T.J. Pempel, University of California, Berkeley

Panel Description
Today, values that have undergirded the Liberal International Order (LIO) are under attack with the rise of illiberal forces. President Trump’s approach to foreign policy emphasizes bilateral negotiations (rather than multilateral institutions) and national interests (rather than shared values). This has caused growing concerns among U.S. partners and the international community about the viability of the LIO, which was built and led by the U.S. At the same time, however, several like-minded democratic countries—the Quad—are promoting the Free and Open Indo-Pacific strategy, which upholds the liberal values of freedom and openness in the face of China’s increasing disregard for them in its implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative. Is the “China Dream” really incompatible with the LIO? Does China engage in values-based diplomacy? Should governments pursue universal values before interests? Is values diplomacy sustainable and effective in the era of weakening American leadership? How should leaders of the LIO promote liberal values in an increasingly illiberal world order? What should be Korea’s choice between values and interests to become “Global Korea”?