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US Reorients South Korea Deployment to Deter China Over Taiwan

Pentagon officials say the shift will enhance strategic flexibility to respond to Chinese military drills near Taiwan.

Joint military drills between the US and South Korea took place in March. Thousands of American troops have been based in the country since the end of the Korean War
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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.