| ID | 197986 |
| Title Proper | Beyond territorial defense…? The U.S.-Japan and U.S.-ROK alliances and a ‘Taiwan Strait contingency’ |
| Language | ENG |
| Author | Liff, Adam P |
| Summary / Abstract (Note) | Amid United States-led efforts to internationalize and multilateralize support for Taiwan and cross-Strait deterrence in response to mounting coercive pressure from China, the April 2021 and May 2021 U.S.-Japan and U.S.-South Korea summit statements’ unprecedented references to ‘peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait’ triggered global headlines. In the 3 years since, U.S. expectations for treaty allies to do and say more in support of Taiwan and cross-Strait deterrence have surged. But what of the perspectives and policies of key front-line treaty allies Japan and Korea, each host to tens of thousands of forward-deployed U.S. forces? This study comparatively analyzes the historical and contemporary evolution of Japanese and Korean positions and policies vis-à-vis Taiwan and the role their leaders see for their country and respective alliance with the U.S. in the event of a ‘regional contingency’: a conflict not involving—at least initially—armed attacks on ally-administered territory. After highlighting the similarities between Seoul’s and Tokyo’s intentionally ambiguous positions on Taiwan’s status, it explores important differences in each allies’ willingness to deepen practical engagement with Taiwan, to expand their respective alliance’s focus beyond territorial defense, and to stretch the bounds of the ally’s own potential contributions in a regional contingency. |
| `In' analytical Note | Pacific Review Vol. 38, No.3; May 2025: p.443-472 |
| Journal Source | Pacific Review 2025-06 38, 3 |
| Key Words | Security ; Alliance ; Japan ; Taiwan ; United States ; China ; Korea ; Strait |