South Korea Balances Security And Economic Ties

Feb. 18 (Asia Today) — South Korea faces mounting strategic pressure as U.S.-China rivalry intensifies across the Indo-Pacific, forcing Seoul to balance its security alliance with Washington against deep economic ties to Beijing. Analysts and Korean institutes cite risks to trade—33.27% of maritime commerce transits the Taiwan Strait—and recommend deeper U.S.-ROK military integration, supply-chain cooperation, blue-water naval capabilities, and strategic autonomy investments in space and ISR.