An Analysis Of Extended Deterrence And U.S. Strategy On The Korean Peninsula

The concept of extended deterrence has evolved from the notion of deterrence.After the Second World War,the United States established a network of alliances across the world,and its interests are hence extended globally.This means that the United States needs to extend its deterrence to protect its interests through providing military protection to its allies or partner countries against any invasion or attacks by the third parties.The Korean Peninsula,as a region of major strategic importance,was a competing arena for the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War.The U.S.extended deterrence in the region officially began with the start of U.S.-South Korea alliance after the Korean War.During the Cold War,the most important strategic goal of the United States' extended deterrence in the region was to prevent the spread of communism.Despite the relaxation in Sino-U.S.relations in the 1970 s,the United States chose to remain the intensity of its strategic deployment in the region.After the end of the Cold War,the United States has shown signs of abating in its extended deterrence posture.However,with the development of North Korea's nuclear weapons and the missile test,the United States once again strengthened its extended deterrence in the region during the post-Cold War era.The elements that could decide whether the United States weakens or strengthens its extended deterrence on the peninsula mainly include technical factors,regional situations,U.S.relationships with allies,and its domestic factors.Combining the above factors with the current situation on the peninsula,the United States will further strengthen its deterrence in the region.This will not only affect the situation in Northeast Asia,but also pose a threat to China's national security.Therefore,China should first of all continue to strengthen the coordination with Russia to balance the strategic imbalance caused by the United States' strengthening relationships and military ties with alliances.Second,China should improve and strengthen its relations with South Korea and enhance mutual trust between each other to offset the impact of strengthened US-South Korean alliance in the peninsula.Finally,China must continue to strengthen coordination with the United States,Russia,Japan,South Korea and the DPRK and commit itself to achieving long-term peace and stability on the Korean peninsula in that the peace and stability will greatly weaken the legitimacy of the United States' military deployment in the region.