"Centrifugalization" Of The US-Korea Alliance During The Period Of Moon Jae-in's Government

Since the Trump administration of the U.S.and the government of Moon Jae-in of South Korea entered the administration cycle in 2017,along with the changes in the situation on the Korean peninsula and the differences between the U.S.and South Korea in national interests and leadership concepts,the U.S.-South Korea alliance Obvious "centrifugation" trend.This article focuses on the new trends in the adjustment and evolution of the US-ROK alliance during the Moon Jae-in government,systematically sorts out the policy differences between the two sides in various fields,analyzes the reasons for the "centrifugation" of the US-ROK alliance,and further analyzes its security for Northeast Asia Structural impact.The "centrifugalization" of the US-ROK alliance is mainly manifested in the differences between the US and South Korea in South Korea' s autonomy,policy toward China,policy toward North Korea,military cooperation,economic and trade cooperation,and national sentiment.With regard to South Korean autonomy,the tension between control and autonomy between the United States and South Korea has clearly increased.The asymmetry of the Korea-US alliance tends to weaken,thereby reducing the US' s dominance over South Korea in the alliance relationship.With regard to policy toward China,the United States and South Korea have clearly shown differences in their strategic positioning and policy toward China.The Trump administration defines China as a "revisionist country" and "strategic competitor,in terms of strategic cognition,while the Moon Jae-in government defines China as a strategic partner and strives to repair China's damage caused by "THAAD " Korean relations.In terms of their policies toward the North Korea,the differences between the two sides are more obvious than in previous governments,and they are specifically reflected in the timeliness and means of solving the North Korean nuclear issue.In terms of military cooperation,the deployment of U.S.sensitive military facilities in South Korea and the apportionment of military expenditure about U.S.military forces in South Korea are contradictions.In the field of economic and trade cooperation,as South Korea's trade surplus with the United States continues to expand,differences between the United States and South Korea on economic and trade issues have gradually become apparent.Trump,known as "America First,"advocates"fair trade" businessman thinking,forcing South Korea to compromise the United States on foreign trade issues.In terms of national sentiment,the anti-American sentiments of South Koreans during Moon Jae-in's administration continued to rise,exacerbating the centrifugal tendency of the US-ROK alliance.The reasons for the "centrifugalization" of the US-ROK alliance can be analyzed from three levels:region,country,and individual.At the regional level,the apparent easing of the situation on the Korean Peninsula is an important external factor for the "centrifugation" of the US-ROK alliance.In particular,the United States?South Korea?North Korea have abandoned their previous hostile policies and started to resolve issues left by history through dialogue,economic and cultural exchanges,which has reduced the strategic importance of the US-South Korea alliance.At the national level,the differences in the positions and strategic goals of the United States and South Korea are the root cause of the eccentricity of the alliance.As a global power,the United States has always made strategy toward North Korea from the perspective of maintaining its global hegemony and regional order dominance.South Korea is not only located in the peninsula region,but also as a party to regional territorial and historical disputes.The starting point for the US-ROK alliance is its own security.This difference in perspective makes it difficult for the two sides to agree on fundamental interests.On a personal level,the contradiction between Moon Jae-in and Trump' s governing style and philosophy has contributed to the eccentricity of the alliance.Trump's hegemonic style of "speaking with strength" is also contrary to Moon Jae-in' s"peace and equality" philosophy.Generally speaking,the many differences and "centrifugalization"of the US-ROK alliance have not completely shaken the overall structure and stability of the US-ROK alliance,but the US-ROK alliance is an important part of the security structure in Northeast Asia,and its readjustment process will inevitably trigger Changes in Northeast Asia' s security structure.First,the US's status has declined,as reflected by the decline in the dominance of North Korean policy in the US-ROK alliance and the weakening it' s management capabilities toward Japan and South Korea second,China' s pillar role in the security structure of Northeast Asia is prominent,as Increasing influence in resolving the North Korean nuclear issue and increasing influence on Japan and South Korea;Third,the role of South Korea' s "balancer" has been enhanced,manifested by its balancing role in the trilateral relations of the two groups:South Korea?the United States?North Korea,and South Korea?the United States?China;North Korea' s status in Northeast Asia' s security structure has risen,as reflected in the enhancement of its own participation in negotiation chips and the frequency and effectiveness of interactions with major powers such as China and Russia.