US Mediation in Asia

Last year, when Vice President Joe Biden visited Asia, Japan originally thought the U.S. was coming to try and gain support against China’s new air defense zone. But this was not the case, as Biden just talked evasively in Asia before returning to the U.S. Issues between China and Japan and between South Korea and Japan were not brought up on this trip; on the contrary, Japan’s Prime Minister, [Shinzo] Abe, had the gall to “close the door on talks.” With Japan rocking the boat in Asia, the U.S. is worried it will be forced from its beneficial “neutral” position. On numerous trips to Asia, Deputy Secretary of State William Burns has tried to ease tension between all parties involved.

Taking Advantage of the Situation to Temporarily Halt U.S.-Korean Military Drills

Burns first went to South Korea, China and then Japan, his journey being the exact opposite of Biden’s. Burns went to South Korea and got straight to the point, stating that resuming negotiations on the peninsula was a key issue. North Korea sent South Korea a “large proposal,” and while [both countries] hope to ease tension between the north and south, [the proposal] left no leeway in its demand that the south stop military drills and that the U.S. not be allowed to launch nuclear strikes or hold military drills in South Korea or nearby territories. The south promptly refused [this demand]. Actually, the U.S. and South Korea originally had not thought about the nuclear issue at all. On the contrary, it was Kim Jong Un who first brought up the renouncement of nuclear weapons. As such, the U.S. and South Korea should take this chance to force the north to put all its nuclear weapons on the table. On this upcoming trip, if Burns is to be sincere and act with wisdom, he should take advantage of the situation and be the first to suspend U.S.-South Korean military drills, to compel the north to again make the peninsula nuclear-free and resume six-party talks, weakening the north’s military power.

Maintaining stable relations with Japan and neighboring countries, especially China, is also another main point of Burns’ visit. Japanese foreign relations are an extension of U.S. foreign relations in Asia. China and Japan being neither at war nor peace is beneficial to the U.S. China and Japan are in dispute over the Diaoyu Islands and China’s new air defense zone. The economic recession has affected the United States’ influence in Asia, so it tacitly allows Japan to gain military strength using circumstances it can control to inhibit China. The U.S. wants the ability to continue to use military bases in Japan and maintain a presence in Asia, which appears justified when there is the possible escalation of conflict between China and Japan, wherein Japan would ask for reinforcements. This also affects China-U.S. relations, and would cause the U.S. to be put in a hard position, so Burns wants to ease mounting tensions between China and Japan.

History between Japan and South Korea has led to current disputes. And due to South Korea also being an U.S. ally, conflicts between South Korea and Japan also affect the three-country alliance, putting the U.S. in an awkward situation. If the two allies are at odds with each other but take no immediate action, when strategizing with the U.S. there is no reason to be worried. However, the U.S. is more worried about South Korea involving China by forming a three-country alliance with China and North Korea that would be able to stand against the U.S. and Japan, weakening U.S. influence. Therefore, the U.S. wants to ease tension between Japan and South Korea quickly so the three countries have enough allied power to curb China.

U.S. Worries over Strengthening Ties between China and South Korea

In 2013, trade between Japan and South Korea and between Japan and China declined on multiple levels, but between China and South Korea, trade has increased. The northeast Asian “main artery” of trade between China and Japan is undergoing a huge change. China and South Korea increased the scope of the two countries’ free trade zone; Commerce Minister of China Gao Hucheng expressed that they will strive this year to finish negotiations regarding the zone. South Korea also expressed its intention to push for U.S. mediation in establishing the Trans-Pacific Partnership, but this year the priority is pushing for free trade negotiations with China. From an economic standpoint, the U.S. worries Chinese-South Korean relations will strengthen through trade agreements.

No matter whether it is in northeast Asian conflicts, foreign relations or the economy, the U.S. is casting its shadow all over the place. Not only is the U.S. acting as the international police, but it is also looking out for its own interests in the area. After visiting Japan, the U.S. wants to pull South Korea into an alliance, settling disputes quietly to strengthen a three country alliance between the U.S., Japan and South Korea, reprising its role as the core power in the Asia-Pacific. It also wants to maintain monitored development and control over Chinese foreign relations, and use China in the region to play a role of responsibility, which is a balanced U.S. strategy. However, Beijing can also play this same game and change the strategy for its own interests.