US to “strengthen US forces in East Asia as North Korea continues provocations”… Pressure on China’s role in ‘deterring North Korea’
National Security Adviser “Biden will discuss North Korea threat at meeting with Xi Jinping”
The United States has officially stated its position that if China does not play an appropriate role in North Korea’s provocation, it will have no choice but to strengthen its military capabilities. It is understood that China is pressuring North Korea to stop its repeated missile tests.
China’s diplomatic influence was also checked. This is by strengthening ties with ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations). As the Democratic Party of the United States managed to take control of the Senate in the mid-term elections, it is evaluated that the negotiating power of the President of the United States Joe Biden has been further strengthened before a summit with the Chinese President Xi Jinping.
“If North Korea’s provocations continue, US forces will be strengthened”
According to foreign media outlets such as Reuters and the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), the White House intends to emphasize that President Biden will play a constructive role in preventing North Korean provocations to President Xi at the US summit- China scheduled for the 14th.
The specific place this content came out is on board an Air Force One flight bound for Phnom Penh, Cambodia, where the ASEAN + 3 (Korea, China and Japan) summit will be held with President Biden on board . In a briefing on the 11th (local time), White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said, “President Biden will tell President Xi that North Korea is a threat not only to the United States, South Korea and Japan , but also the peace and stability of the entire region.” “I will tell you that if North Korea continues on this path, it will mean that it will have no choice but to further strengthen the US military and security presence in the region,” he said. He said.
The reason why the White House has issued such a strong message is that North Korea’s military provocations have resulted in unprecedented frequency. North Korea is known to have resumed launching intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) tests this year and is also finalizing preparations for its seventh nuclear test.
Adviser Sullivan also assessed that North Korea’s “frequency (multiple) of missile tests and the possibility of a seventh nuclear test is on the horizon.”
However, there is a view that it remains to be seen whether the US military strengthening message can act as China’s leverage. As China has so far reacted sensitively to the US military build-up, concerns are being raised that such comments from the US could instead intensify the conflict between the US and China. The United States currently has 28,500 US troops stationed in Korea and 55,000 US troops in Japan.
Strengthen ASEAN ties to China’s pressure
In addition to military force, the United States has begun to put pressure on China by strengthening ties with Southeast Asian countries. The United States and ASEAN issued a joint statement at the 10th ASEAN-US Summit held in Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, on the 12th (local time) to upgrade bilateral relations to a “comprehensive strategic partnership.” It has been seven years since the bilateral relationship was upgraded to a strategic partnership in 2015.
In particular, in this joint statement, they agreed to promote ASEAN-led maritime cooperation by preserving freedom of navigation and overflight and resolving disputes peacefully in accordance with international legal principles generally recognized by the international community, such as the Convention of United Nations on Law. of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Experts believe that the United States has sided with ASEAN in the dispute between China and neighboring Southeast Asian countries over the South China Sea. This is because the United States is in the position that all countries can enjoy freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea under international law.
The United States has previously announced continued support for ASEAN. Last May, at the US-ASEAN Commemorative Summit held in Washington, DC, he announced an aid program worth US$150 million, and requested US$800 million for bilateral cooperation with ASEAN member states in the budget for the 2023 fiscal year.
President Biden said at this summit, “ASEAN is at the center of the US Indo-Pacific strategy,” and “we will continue to strengthen our role.”
Meanwhile, the joint statement noted that the ASEAN Positions on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) and the US Indo-Pacific Strategy share basic principles in promoting an open, inclusive, rules-based regional structure. The declaration also includes humanitarian aid, disaster relief, maritime security, counter-terrorism, humanitarian aid, disaster relief, maritime security, counter-terrorism, It included strengthening cooperation in the fields of peacekeeping, military medical care, mine clearance, and cyber security. .
Reporter Park Shin-young nyusos@hankyung.com
