International Pattern Of Conversion During The Us-rok Alliance With China's Policy Choice

After the WWII, the security dilemma drove the United States and the Republic of Korea into a formal military alliance, which had served to deter the DPRK, contain the PRC and the Soviet Union and exercise rigid control over the ROK during the whole period of the Cold War. During the transformation of pattern of international relations after the disintegration of the Soviet Union, factors precipitating the formation of the U.S.-ROK alliance have been undergoing profound changes and undermining the alliance. However, in the perspective of the U.S.-ROK alliance, the security situation in the Northeast Asia region remains quite complicated. The North Korea has surprisingly survived the transformation of international pattern while the rise of China has been greatly altering the power structure of the Asia-Pacific region. Therefore, the transformation of the pattern of international relations requires the United States and South Korea to maintain and even strengthen the alliance. By so doing, the United States is able to exercise more control over security affairs on the peninsula and even consolidate its domination over the Asia-Pacific region while the South Korea, encircled by great powers and threatened by the militarily strong North, is capable of maintaining its self-confidence and security. As a result, the United States and the ROK have been redefining the alliance to get adapted to the changing pattern of international relations.Circumstanced in the "lip-and-teeth" relation between China and the Korean Peninsula, the redefinition of the U.S.-ROK alliance will produce some negative impacts on China's diplomacy and national defense. China should engage in the establishment of a multilateral security regime under the guidance of New Security Concept and contribute more to the peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula.