By Ruhee Neog
US Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta was recently on an extensive tour of Asia to drive home the message that the US is a Pacific power reorienting its focus towards Asia. In this period of uncertainty, Asian powers are likely to hedge their bets to gain maximum leverage from both the US and China who are jostling for geopolitical influence. Given that the ROK has a strategic alliance with the US which limits its options, what are the factors that will enable the ROK to hedge its bets and seek its best interests?
China As Catalyst
If the ROK seeks balance and influence in the Asia-Pacific, China’s relevance will be two-fold: ROK-China and DPRK-China.
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