I think Trump overestimated how much South Korea needs us..
China signs defense agreement with South Korea as U.S. angers Seoul with demand for $5 billion troop payment
China signs defense agreement with South Korea as U.S. angers Seoul with demand for $5 billion troop payment
Interesting. I don't know if this is a good or bad thing.
The good theory is, China lays the hammer on North Korea, and says..... South Korea is under our protection now, so shut it.
I can see this outcome. It is possible. And given North Korea has practically no friends at all in the world, other than China... they would have no choice but to tow the line.
The bad theory is.... China gives a wink and nod, and as soon as the US pulls out, North Korea rolls in the tanks, and we have a re-enactment of Vietnam.
I can see this outcome as well. It is very possible, given that China was directly responsible for propping up North Vietnam.
Economically, China would be an utter fool to allow the second. S.Kor is a huge market for Chinese goods, while N. Kor is a economic joke. China is making good money off the S.Koreans, and we have every reason to believe that having the North Koreans take over South Korea would be an economic disaster for the entire region.
Socialism always fails.
And with China more Capitalist than ever, and seeing how North Korea has not followed their lead.... China would be economically retarded to allow the North Koreans to have their way with the South.
But..... You never know. Hard to say.
Either a China defense pact will defuse the most dangerous DMZ on earth... or it will put a torch to the fuse.
Hard to say what will happen now.