Is Deployment of Korean Troops to Taiwan Possible? - Revealed by the Commander of US Forces Korea

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] General Paul LaCamera, commander of the United States Forces Korea (USFK), revealed that he is preparing a contingency plan in response to a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan, drawing attention to the possibility of troop deployment not only by USFK but also by the South Korean military. This is because he indirectly mentioned the need for support from the South Korean government if Taiwan were to be invaded.

General LaCamera’s remarks originated during a virtual discussion hosted by the Institute for Corean-American Studies (ICAS) on the 19th (local time). When asked about South Korea’s role and the possibility of US military support in the event of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan, he stated, "My role is to defend the Korean Peninsula and maintain peace and stability in Northeast Asia," while also adding, "All leaders and commanders develop contingency plans for any situation."

This is the first time a sitting USFK commander has mentioned a response related to the Taiwan issue, leading to interpretations that he is signaling the possibility of mobilizing USFK forces in the event of an emergency in Taiwan.

In particular, when pointed out that "in an emergency, the US government and Congress would expect military support from South Korea," General LaCamera responded, "I do not disagree with that statement, but people have the right to their own opinions, and it is up to the Korean people to decide for themselves."

At the level of the ROK-US alliance, the Taiwan issue has already been formally placed on the agenda. In May last year, then-President Moon Jae-in and US President Joe Biden explicitly mentioned the Taiwan issue for the first time in a joint summit statement. The Taiwan issue was also referenced in the joint statement of the Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) held in December of the same year.

However, even if China attacks Taiwan, it would not be easy for the South Korean military to dispatch troops. Typically, for the Ministry of National Defense to send troops overseas, a dispatch proposal must first be submitted to the National Assembly. After the National Assembly’s approval, the proposal goes through the State Council’s resolution and finally requires the President’s approval for the final decision.

This is because Article 60, Paragraph 2 of the Constitution states, "The National Assembly shall have the right to consent to declarations of war, dispatch of the armed forces abroad, or the presence of foreign troops within the territory of the Republic of Korea."

There has been controversy over troop dispatch in the past. In January 2020, when Iran attacked a US military base in Iraq on the 8th, there was a heated debate over dispatching troops to the Strait of Hormuz.

At that time, the Ministry of National Defense judged that the deployment of the Cheonghae Unit to the Strait of Hormuz did not require separate National Assembly approval. On December 10, 2019, the National Assembly plenary session passed the government’s original proposal to extend the Cheonghae Unit’s deployment. This extension defined the deployment area as "the waters around Somalia and the Gulf of Aden." However, it included a condition stating, "In case of emergency to protect our nationals, the deployment area may include other waters," thus leaving open the possibility of dispatch to other areas in emergencies.

However, if the government were to increase personnel or weapons for the Cheonghae Unit’s deployment to the Strait of Hormuz, it would be mandatory to obtain the National Assembly’s consent for troop dispatch. The dispatch extension proposal specified the size of the dispatched unit as one destroyer (over 4,000 tons) equipped with one Lynx helicopter and up to three high-speed boats, and up to 320 personnel.

Meanwhile, the largest scale of South Korean overseas troop deployment was during the Vietnam War from 1965 to 1973, with over 320,000 personnel sent. Since then, deployments have mainly been in the hundreds, including the Gulf War in 1991. Currently, the UAE’s Aegis Unit, the Hanbit Unit conducting reconstruction and humanitarian support activities in South Sudan, the Cheonghae Unit performing ship escort missions in the waters around Somalia and the Gulf of Aden, and the Dongmyeong Unit stationed in Lebanon are carrying out their respective missions.