US Expert: "South Korea Should Persuade China Not to Attack Taiwan"

Alan Kim of the Korea Economic Institute of America (KEI):
"It will become increasingly difficult for South Korea to avoid involvement in a Taiwan emergency"
U.S. Forces Korea seen as a threat by China

On May 13 (local time), Alan Kim, Director of the Korea Economic Institute of America (KEI), a U.S. think tank, argued that South Korea should make diplomatic efforts to persuade China not to provoke a conflict in the Taiwan Strait.

At a press conference held at the KEI conference room in Washington, D.C. that day, Kim stated, "It will become increasingly difficult for South Korea to avoid being involved in situations such as a Taiwan emergency."

Kim emphasized, "South Korea needs to make diplomatic efforts to prevent such a war from occurring," and added, "South Korea should attempt to diplomatically persuade China not to provoke a conflict in the Taiwan Strait."

He further pointed out, "Rather than considering ways to avoid involvement in a Taiwan emergency, South Korea should send a clear message that 'a conflict over Taiwan is not in China's interest,' because South Korea is a strategically and geopolitically important region."

Kim also said, "South Korea does not want to be involved in the Taiwan issue, but because U.S. Forces Korea are stationed in South Korea, if they move to support Taiwan, China would see this as a 'threat.' If China believes that U.S. Forces Korea would attack China, South Korea would automatically become involved in the conflict."

U.S. intelligence agencies believe that Xi Jinping, President of China, has ordered the Chinese military to complete preparations for an attack on Taiwan by 2027.

In this regard, Samuel Paparo, Commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (Admiral), stated at a forum held on May 2 that "2027 is not an invasion timeline, but the target date for readiness," and revealed that the Chinese military has already achieved some goals, such as rocket forces and satellite systems for surveillance and reconnaissance. According to Commander Paparo, whether the Chinese military attacks Taiwan will depend on the level of military preparedness and the capability and willingness of Taiwan's allied countries to provide support.