Re-defining the US-Korean Alliance and South Korea’s Strategic Choice: Developments and Debates
Author: Wang Weimin & Li XinSilver Editor Source: Contemporary Asia Pacific StudiesTime :2014-04-17 10:57:00
Abstract: This article provides a systematic overview of negotiations within the US-ROC Alliance since 2002. It discusses progress in the reform of the US military base in South Korea, the respective security roles of the allies, and the alliance's future strategic thinking. Through the paths of “regional expansion” and “deepening of cooperation,” the re-definition of the US-ROC alliance has already realized the dual objectives of balancing interests and threats. The US and the ROC have confirmed the importance of their global strategic alliance, and the ROC has brought an end to years of heated debates in its diplomatic circles, confirming that in the short and medium term that it will follow US foreign policy cues. Despite this, debates regarding South Korea’s Foreign Policy Strategy will continue.
Author: Wang Weimin is an Associate Professor in the Center for South Korean Studies at Fudan University；
Li Xin is a PhD Student of Polictcal Science at the Seoul National University
