‘US troops critical’: South Korean presidential candidate signals turn on China policy

US troops in South Korea could be “critical” for containing China, according to the front runner for the country’s presidential election who signalled a possible change in his position on China. In an interview with Time published on Thursday, the Democratic Party of Korea’s (DPK) presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung said US Forces Korea (USFK) could play a “critical role for the United States policy of containment against China”. He also said Washington’s recent rapprochement with Moscow was “a means to exert pressure on China” and could benefit Seoul with the possible opening of Arctic shipping routes. “If so, it could offer strategic advantages, not only for the US and Russia but also for Korea,” he said, according to Time. South Korea will choose a new president on Tuesday after Yoon Suk-yeol was impeached last month following his abrupt declaration of martial law in December. Lee and the progressive DPK lead South Korea’s presidential race with up to 50 per cent of public support according to the polls. They have largely been regarded as more friendly towards China compared to Yoon and his conservative People Power Party (PPP), which emphasised the alliance with the US and strengthening South Korea’s outreach in addressing security challenges outside the Korean peninsula. During the last presidential election campaign in 2022, Lee was criticised for his description of the American military in Korea as “occupation forces”. During the National Assembly election campaign in March last year, Lee also accused Yoon of jeopardising Chinese trade relations with unnecessary provocation. “China was South Korea’s top export market, but now South Korea is importing mostly from China. Chinese people don’t buy South Korean products because they don’t like South Korea,” Lee said at the time. “Why are we bothering [Beijing]? We should just say xiexie [thank you] and xiexie to Taiwan as well,” he said. “Why do we interfere in cross-strait relations? Why do we care what happens to the Taiwan Strait? Shouldn’t we just take care of ourselves?” When asked by Time if he would come to Taiwan’s aid if it were under attack by Beijing, he cryptically said he would answer when “aliens are about to invade the Earth”. Beijing views Taiwan as part of its territory that must be reunited with the mainland, by force if necessary. Most countries, including South Korea and the US do not recognise it as an independent state, but Washington opposes any attempt to take the island by force. US President Donald Trump has been pressuring US allies, including South Korea, to contribute more to their own defence and levied higher price tags to station US troops. The idea of that USFK should shift from defending South Korea against the North to containing the Chinese military emerged after Trump nominated Elbridge Colby as the undersecretary of defence for policy. Colby has previously argued that North Korea would not give up its nuclear weapons so the use should focus on China while South Korea must be responsible for defence against Pyongyang. He also said “all options” should be on the table to ensure South Korea’s security, including nuclear weapons. Although more than 70 per cent of South Koreans reportedly support nuclear armament, Lee disagreed with the idea. He told Time that Pyongyang’s nuclear capability and Seoul’s “formidable conventional power” had reached a “balance of terror”. He added that a nuclear South Korea would “trigger a domino effect, where Japan and other countries go nuclear. The United States would want to avoid that”. Describing Trump as standing for the “interests of the American people,” Lee said the US president’s attempt to engage in dialogue with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un for denuclearisation talks was “helpful for the peace of the Korean peninsula, as well as for northeast Asia”. He also signalled an intention to follow in the footsteps of the previous DPK president, Moon Jae-in, who tried to mediate between Washington and Pyongyang during Trump’s first term. “Even if the United States and North Korea engage in direct talks, certain economic cooperation or assistance-related issues could still arise,” Lee said. “It’s not easy structurally to actually sideline the South Korean government.”

‘US troops critical’: South Korean presidential candidate signals turn on China policy

Lee Jae-myung says Trump’s attempt to engage Kim Jong-un in dialogue is ‘helpful for the peace of the Korean peninsula’