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| U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin is greeted by military officers upon his arrival at the Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, Monday. AP-Yonhap |
Containing China's rise also expected to be high on agenda
By Kang Seung-woo
The U.S. defense chief is expected to use a meeting with his South Korean counterpart as an opportunity to assure Seoul of Washington's extended deterrence commitment against North Korea's evolving nuclear threats.
In addition, how to contain a rising China is likely to be high on the agenda as well amid the current geostrategic competition between Washington and Beijing that is developing into a new Cold War.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin arrived in South Korea, Monday, for his talks with Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup, scheduled for Tuesday.
"Austin is anticipated to talk about the U.S.' plan to strengthen its commitment to South Korea against North Korea's nuclear threats," said Cho Han-bum, a senior researcher of the Korea Institute for National Unification.
Extended deterrence refers to the commitment to use a full range of capabilities, including nuclear weapons to deter attacks on allies. The United States has provided extended deterrence, known as the nuclear umbrella, to South Korea since 1991 when it removed all of its nuclear assets from the peninsula.
Austin's visit came after President Yoon Suk Yeol said earlier this month that Seoul may be forced to acquire nuclear weapons if the security situation with North Korea worsens, raising speculation that South Korea wants the U.S. to provide more nuclear security assurances.
"Given President Yoon's remark, the U.S. side may discuss the issue in order to reassure South Korea," Cho said.
In addition, the allies plan to hold tabletop exercises next month in the U.S. under the scenario of North Korea's potential use of nuclear weapons, a move to strengthen the credibility of Washington's extended deterrence for its allies.
Along with the issue of extended deterrence, the two defense chiefs may talk about enhancing trilateral cooperation with Japan, a security matter focused on countering China's increasing military might.
"It is a no-brainer that Lee and Austin will discuss the China issue, given that South Korea has unveiled its Indo-Pacific strategy and Washington has been stressing the importance of strengthening the cooperation between South Korea, Japan and the U.S., or one between South Korea and Japan, all of which target China," Cho said.
According to him, a combination of the trilateral military cooperation and the AUKUS is a de facto creation of an Asian version of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). The AUKUS is a trilateral pact between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the U.S. that is aimed at countering China.
China has also lambasted the AUKUS as the formation of a maritime "clique" that will only exacerbate an arms race and undermine global efforts against nuclear proliferation.
Following the defense chiefs' talks, the two countries are in negotiations over holding foreign ministers' talks later this week in Washington, D.C.
Cho said the U.S. visit by Foreign Minister Park Jin was related to the Yoon administration's efforts to improve its ties with Japan.
The bilateral relations between the neighboring countries have plummeted to the worst level in years over the issue of Japan compensating surviving South Korean victims of wartime forced labor. Since Yoon took office last May, the South Korean government has made efforts to get ties back on track.
"Japan has shown no interests in improving its ties with South Korea ― although the U.S. is urging the two countries to beef up bilateral cooperation behind the scenes," Cho said. "In that respect, Park may ask the U.S. to help change Japan's attitude in his meeting with U.S. State Secretary Antony Blinken."
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