The New Predicament Of The US - ROK Alliance From The Perspective Of Asymmetric League Theory

The US-ROK alliance is a direct product of the cold war. One of the targets ofthe alliance, the threat from DPRK, still remains. However, the collapse of SovietUnion, the rise of China, the pivot to Asia strategy of US and other changes andfactors has caused new dilemmas for the alliance.As a typical asymmetrical alliance, the US-ROK alliance’s2parties havedifferent strength and goals. The US treats ROK as geopolitical fulcrum in NortheastAsia and a part of its strategic arrangement in East Asia; The ROK treats the US asnational security assurance. The asymmetry of US-ROK alliance has causeddivergence of interests in many aspects, including missile defense system building,US-Japan-ROK trilateral cooperation, the reunification of the Korea peninsula andUS-ROK trade and economic cooperation.However, where there is interest divergence between US and ROK, there iscommon interest between China and ROK. Since the establishment of diplomaticrelationship, Sino-ROK relations have gained remarkable achievements, especially intrade and economic cooperation. And China and ROK have great potential in politicaland diplomatic cooperation. China, as a new strategic choice for ROK, has reducedROK’s dependence on the US.China should work to broaden the common interests with ROK and developSino-ROK relationship. We should focus on reducing the US-ROK alliance’sinfluence on China’s development and East Asia regional cooperation.