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By Kang Seung-woo
The new U.S. National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) is once again putting Korea to the test in the Sino-U.S. rivalry, according to diplomatic experts, as it will add a provision that will require the Pentagon to reconsider sending military equipment or troops to a country if it uses Chinese 5G technology.
Currently, LG Uplus, one of the nation's three mobile carriers, is Huawei's top Korean client, and there are lingering concerns that if the NADD is approved by Congress, Korea may fall victim to the act. Korea has been stuck in the middle of the hegemonic competition between the United States and China because the former is Korea's long-time security ally while the latter is its top trading partner.
"It carries extra significance given that the U.S. Congress is playing a leading role in pushing ahead with the plan," said Park Won-gon, a professor of international politics at Handong Global University.
"Under the Donald Trump administration, the executive branch led the drive, as evidenced by the Clean Network initiative seeking to exclude Chinese tech firms from internet infrastructure used by the U.S. and other nations, but the Congress-level move is much burdensome on Korea."
The NDAA is in a sharp contrast to the incoming Joe Biden administration's pledge to strengthen its security alliance.
Biden has stated he will seek to repair strained relations with allies and vowed to drop U.S. demands for exponential increases in allied contributions to offset the costs of stationing U.S. forces in their countries, as well as abandoning threats to reduce or remove U.S. forces from Korea.
"The NDAA has contradictory clauses concerning U.S. forces in Korea," said Bruce Klingner, a former CIA analyst and senior researcher at the Heritage Foundation.
"For the third year in a row, Congress approved a clause inhibiting the reduction of U.S. forces out of concern that President Trump might do so over bilateral differences in Special Measures Agreement (SMA) negotiations. However, the 5G clause could be read as requiring a reduction if Seoul does not prohibit the inclusion of Chinese 5G technology."
Given the NDAA, Biden's diplomacy to restore alliances may serve as a double-edge sword to U.S. allies, including Korea, Park noted.
"It is clear that the Biden administration will make the utmost efforts to normalize its relations with allies, but at the same time, it is expected to request that allies fulfill their responsibility and play some role in its fight against China," the professor said.
"Stressing the value of liberal democracy as well as openness and transparency that China does not have, the U.S. is likely to urge its allies to participate in its anti-China coalition."
Although the NDAA is not likely to lead to a reduction or withdrawal of the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) from the Korean Peninsula, it may affect bilateral military cooperation and the transition of wartime operation control (OPCON), the analysts said.
"Washington could request certification that no Chinese 5G technology is used in any communication systems linking Korean and U.S. military units nor will it be used in future sales of U.S. military equipment to Seoul. Doing so could reduce concerns that alliance command and control systems could be compromised," Klingner said.
"One of the conditions of OPCON transition requires certification that Seoul can command combined U.S.-Korean military operations. Concerns over the integrity of bilateral military communications, as well as links with the United Nations sending states' military units, could become a factor in transition discussions."
Park said if Korea continues to use Chinese 5G technology, it will not be easy for Korea and the U.S. to share security intelligence.
"The USFK and the Combined Forces need to communicate with the Korean military, but information sharing will be difficult between the two sides," he said.
