| Submit your comments on this article |
| China-Japan-Koreas |
| Strengthened U.S.-Japan alliance worries Seoul's 'independent diplomacy' proponents |
| 2006-05-11 |
| From East Asia Intel, subscription. Concerns are growing in Seoul that a recent agreement between the United States and Japan to strengthen their stronger security alliance may weaken security ties between Seoul and Washington, deemed vital to deter North Korea. SKors want the US out, we can get out. They cannot have it both ways. Analysts said President Roh Moo-HyunÂ’s so-called "independent diplomacy" has made South Korea a reclusive country in East Asia where China-North Korea ties are also expanding. Independent diplomacy, in this case, seems to be synonymous for appeasement. [snip] Last week, Japan and the U.S. sealed a landmark plan to realign U.S. troops in Japan by 2014, giving Japan's military greater responsibility for security in the Asia-Pacific region. Now THAT will get the SKor's attention. The United States and Japan agreed to bolster their military alliance and streamline American forces in Japan through the overhaul of U.S. bases there. It was the most sweeping reorganization of U.S. troops and bases in Japan since the U.S. military presence began at the end of World War II. SKor has had 50 years to get it right. They are an economic powerhouse. They are prosperous. They have a strong military. They have grown up. It is time to take responsibility. The United States plans to use Japan as its main base for operations in Northeast Asia, including in the event of a crisis on the Korean peninsula. This will boost JapanÂ’s role in regional security. Analysts and media here described the accord as a shift away from U.S. military cooperation with its long-time South Korean ally. It really should not be that way. SKor should be able to pretty much stand on her own, with the US assets as backup. "The agreement shows that U.S. trilateral Asian alliance is shifting toward Japan from South Korea," said Lee Keun, who teaches international relations at Seoul National University. The Seoul-Washington alliance had been stronger than the Japan-U.S. alliance because the United States fought the 1950-53 Korean War and South Korea sent troops to help the U.S. troops in Vietnam, Lee and other analysts said. But bilateral ties have loosened in recent years, especially since Roh Moo-Hyun took office in 2003 with a pledge not to "kowtow" to the United States amid a surge of anti-American sentiment. OK, Roh, you got your wish, now live with the consequences. South Korea recently distanced itself from the United States over how to deal with North Korea's nuclear weapons drive. Seoul also rebuffed Washington's request to regulate the speed of inter-Korean reconciliation and cooperation in order to reinforce U.S.-led pressure on North Korea. Seoul's major newspapers also used their editorials to express concerns about the weakening security ties between Seoul and Washington. "The Roh administration's independent diplomacy has caused the weakening of ties with the United States and a smaller role for South Korea in the region," stated the Dong-a Ilbo newspaper. The Joongang Ilbo also expressed concerns that U.S. bases in Japan could become command posts should a war break out on the Korean peninsula. So what? In a sign that Seoul's alliance with Washington was unraveling, the U.S. last year rejected selling high-flying surveillance aircraft to South Korea. In contrast, the United States already approved the sale of the aircraft to Japan. Play nice with the NORKS, and don't ask for our special goodies. We do not want Kimmie or Hu to get their hot little hands on one. But South Korea Foreign Minister Ban Ki-Moon played down concerns that the buttressed Washington-Tokyo military cooperation could weaken Seoul's military alliance with Washington. "I understand there are some concerns that the U.S. Forces Japan would take a bigger role after the latest agreement. But what I know is that there would be no such change in the forces' supportive role," he added. "This [U.S.-Japan] agreement does not bring about change to the supporting role of U.S. troops in Japan in the event of an emergency situation on the Korean peninsula," Ban said. "In case of contingencies on the Korean peninsula, South Korea will play a leading role in cooperation with the United States," Ban said. "We would take the leading role in close cooperation and consultation with our ally, or the United States, in case of any emergency on the peninsula." |
| Posted by:Alaska Paul |
| #11 heh heh - the bait works - AP surfaces! |
| Posted by: Frank G 2006-05-11 22:35 |
| #10 You're a veddy baad mon, Frank [wags index finger and frowns]. I have Mozilla Firefox here at work. It does not like toolbar buttons for editing, like links, bold, italic, etc. I must go back to the basic code cut and paste. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2006-05-11 22:09 |
| #9 very sticky today. /thats be geek speak. |
| Posted by: RD 2006-05-11 19:53 |
| #8 |
| Posted by: RD 2006-05-11 19:52 |
| #7 Alaska Paul, I'm having the same trouble too in comments. test:  |
| Posted by: RD 2006-05-11 19:49 |
| #6 still with the DOS 3.0, AP? |
| Posted by: Frank G 2006-05-11 19:48 |
| #5 I could not make the pic insertion button work on my article maker page, Frank. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2006-05-11 19:29 |
| #4 where's the "no-Americans allowed" sign graphic? |
| Posted by: Frank G 2006-05-11 19:17 |
| #3 South Koreans, what can you say about them? As long as they have it all their way and are stuffing their pockets with cash, we are buddies. Ask them to work with us and you'd think we started World War 15. I think these skidmarks are ready for a taste of the real world. |
| Posted by: Spavins Sputle3475 2006-05-11 18:13 |
| #2 Cause and effect is lost on most of the world, isn't it? |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2006-05-11 17:48 |
| #1 jealous? TFB |
| Posted by: Captain America 2006-05-11 17:40 |