One wonders how the Japanese city of Iwakuni’s rejection–in a non-binding resolution–of an increased U.S. military presence in their town will influence the Pyeongtaek base expansion issue. At any rate, this certainly sounds familiar:
Opposition from local communities concerned about noise, accidents and crime associated with U.S. bases has hindered efforts to finalize the overall plan, part of Washington’s global strategy to make its military into a more flexible force.
Personally, I almost hope the Pyeongtaek move collapses, as the maintenance of U.S. ground forces on the Korean Peninsula strikes me as nothing more than an exercise in showing the flag, fueled by institutionalized inertia in both Seoul and Washington. The alliance needs to change, and I can’t see the logic in spending tons of money to relocate 8th Army to Pyeongtaek when all Pyeongtaek should (and probably will) ever be is an interim stage of a total withdrawal of U.S. ground troops.
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“as the maintenance of U.S. ground forces on the Korean Peninsula strikes me as nothing more than an exercise in showing the flag”
The US troops function in the primary goal, as it always has, of detering the North from acting on thoughts it might be able to achieve unifiction through invasion. In the past, the Cold War created another primary goal of “containment” but that disappeared for the US with the collapse of communism.
I agree today much on the US side is guided more by the power of the status quo than anything else. None of the justifications you hear for why the US remains — especially about containing China or preventing future trouble in East Asia by being in Korea — amount to much to me.
However, the deterent goal is still the driving force behind South Korea’s position on USFK. Whatever the level of true Sunshine feeling South Korean society cultivates, they are not ready to get rid of USFK for fear of what North Korea might do.
And then there is the weakness of the North coupled with its large artillery, missile, and WMD stockpiles.
As long as the US maintains thousands of troops in South Korea — while the North remains armed to the teeth but not far from total collapse — there is much more at stake than just running up the flag.
Korea is a dangerous place — whether another 50 years without war takes place or whether the North starts to break up next year and decides to take out as many of its enemies as possible before the end of the collapse.
That threat is just as powerful as the inertia/the status quo.
I hope the Pyongtaek expansion fails so American society can avoid that threat.
i wonder if the expat will be outraged by this lack of japanese respect. i wonder if he’ll threaten to pull the troops out.
Have you ever stopped to consider that maybe there is a reason you don’t hear a lot of bitching about the ungrateful Japanese?
Another rationale from the Korean society on expanding Pyongtaek is that even if it is the first stage in the US leaving altogther, it will leave them with an upgraded major base further from North Korean artillery range.
If South Korea is going to face a split peninsula without the US military, it will need to beef up its own military drastically — and part of that will be upgrading bases as well as moving from a conscript army to one with a btter quality of life for ROK soldiers.
US bases in Korea are already way ahead of ROK bases in this regard.
Taking over US bases when USFK leaves will automatically give the ROK military a boost in what it needs to transform its military.
Hey, I understand how the South Koreans might love to inherit a massive logistical hub like an expanded Pyeontaek-Osan base complex once Yankee goes home, but what I don’t understand is why U.S. taxpayers should help pay for it. If Seoul wants such a base, they can built it themselves.
And while your probably right about the South Korean government wanting to keep USFK around; given the kind of deal Seoul accepted following the base transfer negotiations and the fact that the gov’t apparently conceded about “strategic flexibility,” they apparently want the troop presence. But if this is the case, and the motivation really is “the North Korean threat” rather than the virtual defense subsidies, fat contracts to local construction companies or fear of pissing off local conservatives, then the government is doing a less-than-stellar job explaining both why the U.S. presence is necessary despite the fact that South Korea has like 30 times the GDP, twice the population and better access to supplies and weapons than the North, and the nature of the North Korean threat.
That is why the deal said South Korea would pay for everything.
Until about a year ago, I didn’t get it. I thought it was kind of right that the US re-work at least part of the deal to accept cost sharing — even though I thought Korea should fund most of it —
—but then I thought about what would happen when USFK leaves.
And I thought the exact same thing you did. Why should the US pay for a base that the ROK is going to take over perhaps as soon as a few years?
I do agree that the money angle is another reason SK wants the troops. The cost of replacing USFK is something they don’t want to face.
But on the selling the idea of the North as a threat connected to a recognition of the need —- societies aren’t that logical. They can want to eat their cake and have it too….
….meaning they don’t see it as a conflict of interest — wanting to view the North as a brother and not an enemy while keeping the US deterent - just in case.
If Koreans were savvy, then they could maintain neutrality in the upcoming China-Japan powwow. Then, the US may like to stay around in Korea, while these two vehemoths fight it out.
It is an option.
Lee MyungBak may turn the country around to be a major pro-America ally after next election. If that happens, unless the US wants to withdraw totally from China-Korea-Japan area, Korea will be useful to the US.
I doubt Japan will seek US military removal. I think if the US leaves Korea, Japan will be even more intent on keeping the US in country — regardless of what local cities with US bases have to say.
I think Japan has shown it doesn’t want to face its Asian enemies alone, but South Korean society has shown it can barely stomach the US even when threatened with the possibility of war.
“I think Japan has shown it doesn’t want to face its Asian enemies alone”
with what they have done, they better not be alone.
vivisection in northern China
boiling of comfort women…