Overview
- US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth warned Beijing is preparing to use force in the Indo-Pacific and announced a Pentagon reorientation toward deterring Chinese aggression.
- General Xavier Brunson described “strategic flexibility” as the ability to deploy forces from South Korea to other regional hotspots, notably a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan.
- The United States currently stations 28,500 troops in South Korea, with officials considering adjustments to troop levels and composition to optimize deterrence.
- South Korea’s newly elected President Lee Jae-myung faces a balancing act as his engagement strategy with North Korea now hinges on strong US military backing.
- China’s large-scale military exercises encircling Taiwan have prompted calls from Washington for regional partners to step up their defense spending.