American allies in the Indo-Pacific may find themselves in a difficult spot. They have essential economic relationships with Beijing and decades-old military pacts with the United States, which aims to maintain its primacy as a rising China expands its influence in the region.
The visit by South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol to Washington in April opened a window into this complex diplomatic problem. The warm reception Mr. Yoon received and his moves to more closely align his nation’s interests with the U.S., met a cooler response in his own country. The escalating friction between the U.S. and China also complicates Seoul’s economic ties to the latter.
In this episode of History As It Happens, The Washington Times national security team leader Guy Taylor and Asia bureau chief Andrew Salmon discuss the difficulties facing the U.S., South Korea and Japan in contending with Chinese influence and North Korean nuclear threats. Each bilateral relationship is steeped in history that, as in the case of South Korea and Japan, can make cooperation today more fraught.
History As It Happens is available at washingtontimes.com or wherever you find your podcasts.
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