Lee Hyo-jin covers the Bank of Korea, the banking industry and broader financial news. Her previous beats include foreign affairs, North Korea and general reporting on Korean society.
Rare US-China standoff in West Sea signals USFK shift to counter Beijing
A U.S. Air Force B-52H strategic bomber flies alongside South Korean Air Force F-15K and U.S. Air Force F-16 fighter jets during a joint aerial exercise over the Korean Peninsula in this July 13, 2023, photo. Courtesy of South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff
By Lee Hyo-jin
Seoul could find itself caught in strategic squeeze between Washington, Beijing
A rare aerial standoff in the West Sea between U.S. and Chinese fighter jets has prompted warnings from analysts that Washington may be putting into action a broader shift to use U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) to counter China.
Since U.S. President Donald Trump took office for his second term, officials in Washington have signaled that U.S. troops stationed in South Korea would assume a greater role in deterring China, while Seoul takes on more responsibility in countering North Korea’s threats. The latest incident appears to reflect that shift.
According to military sources Friday, several USFK F-16 fighter jets took off from Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, on Wednesday and flew over international waters in the West Sea.
The F-16s reportedly operated in an area between the air defense identification zones (ADIZ) of South Korea and China, prompting the Chinese military to dispatch its own fighter jets. No clashes occurred.
South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense said it could not confirm matters related to USFK operations or military activities, but added that "South Korean and U.S. forces maintain a strong combined defense posture."
Sources said USFK had notified the South Korean military in advance of the exercise itself but did not provide detailed information, including its purpose. In cases of U.S.-only drills that do not involve South Korean air assets, full operational plans and objectives are not always shared.
The South Korean military reportedly conveyed its concerns to the U.S. after becoming aware of the incident.
USFK declined to provide details about the incident.
Cho Han-bum, a senior research fellow at the state-run Korea Institute for National Unification, described the incident as "the first visible sign that USFK is pivoting its role to counter China."
"It is quite unusual for USFK to conduct a major drill over the West Sea unilaterally, not during a scheduled joint exercise with South Korea. The operation near China’s ADIZ suggests the move was clearly aimed at Beijing," he said.
A transfer of authority command between the outgoing 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team of the 4th Infantry Division and the new 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team of the 2nd Infantry Division takes place at U.S. Forces Korea Camp Casey in Dongducheon, Gyeonggi Province, Feb. 12. Yonhap
Cho said the incident itself is unlikely to significantly affect relations between Seoul and Beijing, as the two sides have been managing ties carefully. However, he warned that if such drills become more frequent, South Korea could find itself increasingly caught in an awkward position.
China’s English mouthpiece, The Global Times, reported on Friday that the People’s Liberation Army "organized sea and air forces to conduct continuous monitoring and alerting throughout the entire process, and effectively responded to and handled the situation" in response to the U.S. military’s activities in the airspace over the West Sea.
The rare military standoff between USFK and Chinese forces comes as U.S. officials have repeatedly emphasized what they describe as the "strategic flexibility" of USFK, referring to a potential adjustment in the role of the American forces stationed in South Korea.
The concept envisions expanding USFK’s mission to address broader regional security challenges — including China — beyond its traditional focus on deterring North Korea’s nuclear threat.
The U.S. Department of Defense’s latest National Defense Strategy, issued in January, states that "South Korea is capable of taking primary responsibility for deterring North Korea with critical but more limited U.S. support."
USFK Commander Gen. Xavier Brunson has underscored South Korea’s geographic position as a strategic advantage in the broader East Asian region.
In an essay published last November, he introduced the so-called "east-up map" of the Korean Peninsula, which rotates the map from its traditional orientation to highlight South Korea’s ability to project influence across multiple axes of competition, including North Korea, China and Russia.