{"id":2207100,"date":"2024-11-11T16:56:13","date_gmt":"2024-11-11T07:56:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/?p=2207100"},"modified":"2024-11-12T12:07:30","modified_gmt":"2024-11-12T03:07:30","slug":"south-korea-faces-tough-choices-due-to-trumps-hardline-stance-on-china","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2024\/11\/south-korea-faces-tough-choices-due-to-trumps-hardline-stance-on-china\/","title":{"rendered":"South Korea faces tough choices due to Trump\u2019s hardline stance on China"},"content":{"rendered":"
With Donald Trump set to return to the White House, South Korea is bracing for major shifts in its security alliance with the U.S.<\/span><\/p>\n Days after Trump\u2019s election, President Yoon Suk-yeol ordered the launch of <\/span>consultative bodies<\/span><\/a> to address expected challenges, including demands for increased defense spending and heightened pressure regarding Taiwan and China.<\/span><\/p>\n But it will not be easy to navigate the growing tensions between Seoul\u2019s biggest security partner in the U.S. and its biggest economic partner in China, posing significant risks for South Korea caught between the two.<\/span><\/p>\n ALLIANCE UNDER PRESSURE<\/b><\/p>\n Despite the signing of a <\/span>new five-year Special Measures Agreement<\/span><\/a> (SMA) last week, concerns are mounting that Trump may <\/span>push South Korea<\/span><\/a> to further increase its financial contribution for the U.S. military presence.<\/span><\/p>\n The SMA, which the allies concluded ahead of the U.S. election, stipulates that Seoul will pay $1.19 billion (1.6 trillion won) in 2026, representing an 8.3% increase from the previous year. Annual adjustments will be linked to the consumer price index, a shift from previous agreements tied to South Korea\u2019s defense budget increases.<\/span><\/p>\n Trump has a history of challenging allies on defense spending. During his first term, he reportedly demanded that South Korea pay up to $5 billion annually \u2014 a fivefold increase from prior contributions. His return raises the possibility that the SMA could be renegotiated, placing additional strain on South Korea\u2019s defense budget and potentially igniting domestic political opposition.<\/span><\/p>\n Approximately 28,500 U.S. troops are stationed in South Korea, serving as a critical deterrent against North Korean aggression. Any suggestion of troop reductions or demands for disproportionate cost-sharing could unsettle the alliance\u2019s stability.<\/span><\/p>\n South Korea faces the task of balancing U.S. demands with its national interests and public sentiment. Increased financial burdens may not be politically palatable domestically, especially if perceived as yielding to unreasonable U.S. pressure.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n However, the government must also consider the implications for military readiness and the broader security environment on the Korean Peninsula.<\/span><\/p>\n