How South Korea Can Contribute to the Defense of Taiwan
Dr. Sungmin Cho has a new co-authored paper titled “How South Korea can contribute to the defense of Taiwan” published in the Washington Quarterly.
According to Cho, “It remains unclear what South Korea can and should do in a Taiwan contingency. US-China competition is currently fiercest over this issue—it is the most likely potential cause of a great-power war between the two sides. Preventing this outcome through enhanced deterrence depends on the policies of US allies like South Korea. What can South Korea do to support US-led efforts, and what are the major hurdles in attaining deeper bilateral cooperation on Taiwan issues?”
The article provides background on South Korea’s approach to the Taiwan issue to date. It evaluates South Korea’s strategic importance and explores how China and North Korea may respond to increased South Korean cooperation with the US. It recommends ways to leverage the US–South Korean alliance to maintain the peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.
Dr. Sungmin Cho is a professor at the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies. The views expressed in this article are his own and do not reflect those of DKI APCSS, the U.S. Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government.
