The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    INTERVIEWTati Gabrielle, actress of Korean, African-American descent, feels proud of her heritage

  • 3

    China expresses 'strong dissatisfaction' over US shooting down balloon

  • 5

    Decoding success factors of NewJeans: How is it different?

  • 7

    VIDEOFilipina K-pop idol and K-drama actress react to stereotypes about the Philippines

  • 9

    'Hype Boy' by NewJeans reaches 200 mil. Spotify streams

  • 11

    LG publishes Korea's first group-level net zero report

  • 13

    VideoHow Koreans' favorite convenience store foods are made in factories

  • 15

    More than 2,000 foreign workers to be hired at Korean shipyards this month

  • 17

    US literary agent reflects on personal journey to discover Korea in new book

  • 19

    FSC approves security token transactions in Korea

  • 2

    2-year work experience prerequisite lifted for foreign shipyard welders

  • 4

    Families of Itaewon victims on collision course with Seoul City

  • 6

    US shoots down suspected Chinese spy balloon with a single missile

  • 8

    President Yoon at odds with politician who helped him win election

  • 10

    Powerful quake rocks Turkey and Syria, kills more than 1,500

  • 12

    9 fishermen, including 2 Vietnamese, missing in boat incident

  • 14

    Reclusive fashion icon Martin Margiela makes comeback as artist with eerie wonderland of human bodies

  • 16

    BTS fails to win Grammy for 3rd consecutive year

  • 18

    Search under way for 9 missing after fishing boat capsizes

  • 20

    Conflict reignites over relocation of POSCO Holdings to Pohang

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Tue, February 7, 2023 | 11:35
The coming conflict
Posted : 2012-06-24 16:11
Updated : 2012-06-24 16:11
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
China and the United States seem to be heading toward a course of conflict. These two mega-powers of the world have now be¬come global rivals. Their relations are tense; their interests are in conflict; and they face tougher times ahead.

By Shin Hyun-gook

China and the United States seem to be heading toward a course of conflict. These two mega-powers of the world have now become global rivals. Their relations are tense; their interests are in conflict; and they face tougher times ahead.

Just decades ago, in the mid-1980s, these two giant nations saw each other as strategic partners, both interested in an alliance of necessity with the other to prevent the domination of Asia by the Soviet Union. However, the collapse of the Soviet Union has removed the rationale for the 20 years of close cooperation between the two countries.

By the mid-1990s, a trans-Pacific contest for power and influence between a still-dominant America and a fast-growing China began to dominate the relationship.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, in her speech at a seminar in Honolulu on Jan. 12, 2010, declared that "the U.S. is back in Asia to stay." It was interpreted that the U.S. government was reviewing and updating maritime security priorities in Asia and would strive to keep critical military and commercial sea lanes open and secure for its vessels and those of its allies while denying usage of Asian sea lanes by adversaries in time of conflict.

Late last year at the opening of the annual meeting of the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), President Obama said his administration was turning its focus to the booming Asia-Pacific region after a decade of preoccupation with wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Prior to that statement, Obama announced that the U.S. planned to deploy 2,500 marines to Australia in a move that would restore a substantial American footprint near the sea.

Recently, the U.S. government released a document, "Sustaining U.S. Global Leadership: Priorities for 21st Century Defense," which made clear that the U.S. is moving Asia up in its defense strategy priorities. The document read, "While the U.S. military will continue to contribute to security globally, we will of necessity rebalance toward the Asia-Pacific region, and we will emphasize our existing alliances, which provide a vital foundation for Asia-Pacific security."

U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta's extensive visit to Asia in June and his revelation of the U.S government’s plan to deploy more than half of its naval power to the Asia-Pacific theater underscores the United States' significant, long-term commitment to the region.

This renewed U.S. commitment to Asia coincides with a recent move by the U.S. Forces in Korea (USFK). Commander Gen. James Thurman said last week that the USFK has requested the Pentagon deploy one aviation battalion of 24 Apache attack choppers, more Patriot missile interceptors and reconnaissance aircraft, all targeting North Korea.

These series of messages and new moves by the U.S. government reflect America’s concern over China's growing influence in Asia. The American focus on Asia in effect has been raising tensions with an ever more powerful China, which has been increasingly assertive in the region.

Traditionally, China has followed a calculated and prudent diplomatic path: "Observe calmly; secure our position; cope with affairs calmly; hide our capacities and bide our time; be good at maintaining a low profile, and never claim leadership." This posture came from the late Deng Xiaoping’s guidance. For the last two decades, China's leaders have generally been quite cautious about doing anything that would arouse anxiety in other Asian countries or, even more importantly, in the United States.

Former Vice Commandant of the Academy of Military Sciences in China, Lt. General MiZhenyu, once said, “(As for the United States) for a relatively long time it will be absolutely necessary that we quietly nurse our sense of vengeance, we must conceal our abilities and bide our time.”

However, the rhetoric is changing. Since the onset of the global financial crisis of 2008-2009, the Chinese have been far more assertive in their words than ever before and seem to have moved away from their traditional foreign policy posture.

Some Western scholars assert that China has been more open in displaying its rapidly evolving military capabilities and more willing to use its growing economic clout in an attempt to exert diplomatic leverage.

The Korean Peninsula historically has been caught up in the conflicting interests of its surrounding major powers. Poignant and tragic experiences in the 20th century cannot be allowed to be repeated. Korea has been supported by the United States for its defense needs since the end of World War II and the stability of the peninsula is preserved largely thanks to the U.S. presence. Although America’s superior economic position has been threatened, its market oriented economy is the world’s most innovative and one that every nation of the world has been emulating to follow.

Korea and China have built up their diplomatic status to a strategic partnership. As declared by an assistant foreign minister last December, China is expected to be a responsible and reasonable player on the world stage, and to create a better environment for the nations involved through dialogue and exchange. Future cooperation with China is gaining greater importance and the Korean government must develop a diplomatic rationale that benefits both Seoul and Beijing.

The writer is a chair professor of the Catholic University of Daegu. He previously headed the Foreign News Division of the Korea Overseas Information Service. His email address is shinhyungook@hotmail.com.
 
Top 10 Stories
1[VIDEO] Filipina K-pop idol and K-drama actress react to stereotypes about the Philippines VIDEOFilipina K-pop idol and K-drama actress react to stereotypes about the Philippines
2[Video] How Koreans' favorite convenience store foods are made in factories VideoHow Koreans' favorite convenience store foods are made in factories
3US literary agent reflects on personal journey to discover Korea in new book US literary agent reflects on personal journey to discover Korea in new book
4[INTERVIEW] Saudi Arabia seeks greater cooperation with Korea in NEOM INTERVIEWSaudi Arabia seeks greater cooperation with Korea in NEOM
5Debate heats up over chemical castration of more sex offenders Debate heats up over chemical castration of more sex offenders
6Why Galaxy Book3 draws more attention than S23 smartphones Why Galaxy Book3 draws more attention than S23 smartphones
7[ANALYSIS] New order prevails in global battery industry ANALYSISNew order prevails in global battery industry
8Opposition party's attempt to enact Korean version of IRA triggers concerns Opposition party's attempt to enact Korean version of IRA triggers concerns
9Dongwon aims to to acquire McDonald's Korea Dongwon aims to to acquire McDonald's Korea
10Book recounts poverty-stricken Korean coal miners' contribution to their country Book recounts poverty-stricken Korean coal miners' contribution to their country
Top 5 Entertainment News
1[INTERVIEW] Tati Gabrielle, actress of Korean, African-American descent, feels proud of her heritage INTERVIEWTati Gabrielle, actress of Korean, African-American descent, feels proud of her heritage
2Decoding success factors of NewJeans: How is it different? Decoding success factors of NewJeans: How is it different?
3Reclusive fashion icon Martin Margiela makes comeback as artist with eerie wonderland of human bodiesReclusive fashion icon Martin Margiela makes comeback as artist with eerie wonderland of human bodies
4The Boyz member Hyunjae apologizes for wearing hat with Rising Sun flag design The Boyz member Hyunjae apologizes for wearing hat with Rising Sun flag design
5SM in internal feud over founder's exit from producing SM in internal feud over founder's exit from producing
DARKROOM
  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

  • World Cup 2022 France vs Morocco

    World Cup 2022 France vs Morocco

CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group