By Mira Rapp-Hooper
In the past two days, the United States has released important alliance statements with two of its most prominent East Asian partners. The first followed the annual meeting of the U.S.-Japan Security Consultative Committee; the second (PDF) the U.S.-ROK Security Consultative Meeting. Both dialogues, and the joint communiqués they produced, are efforts to respond to the regional security challenges posed by North Korea and China.
While proposed changes to the U.S.-Japan alliance seem to demonstrate Tokyo’s desire to take a more active military role in the alliance, revisions to U.S.-ROK alliance plans indicate an obvious wariness by Seoul to have too much defense independence too quickly.
But the differences are not as clear as they might seem: Both joint statements, either implicitly or explicitly, acknowledge the United States’ commitment to assure both countries of its continued defense commitment, despite an environment of fiscal constraint. The obvious way that Washington can do more with less is to encourage increased participation from its alliance partners, and a brief survey of recent events in each alliance reminds us that there are notable trends towards increased defense autonomy in both alliances. There are, however, ample challenges that accompany increased allied military contributions. These will have to be managed with the utmost care if the United States, South Korea and Japan want to strengthen rather than undermine their own security.
Read the full story at The Diplomat