【Deputy US Defense Secretary's Visit to South Korea Emphasizes Responding to China's Challenge】

According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) on February 3, 2026: Elbridge Colby, the US Deputy Secretary of Defense for Policy, emphasized during his recent visit to South Korea that responding to China's challenge is part of expanding the mission scope of the US military in South Korea, including responding to emergencies involving China. Colby stated on January 26 that the US Indo-Pacific strategy focuses on implementing a denial deterrent along the first island chain and emphasized developing resilient forces in Japan, the Philippines, and the Korean Peninsula.

Colby said the US aims to make China believe that "aggressive actions" across the first island chain are unattractive options. He also emphasized that the Trump administration's alliance policy prioritizes "shared responsibility" rather than "unilateral reliance," and praised South Korea as a "model ally" because it has increased defense spending.

The Yoon Suk-yeol government will increase South Korea's defense budget by 7.5% in fiscal year 2026, approximately $44.8 billion. Colby did not mention North Korea in his speech.

The US Forces in South Korea support the operations of the US-Republic of Korea Joint Command, which serves as the joint command headquarters between the United States and South Korea, with the main objective of deterring and defeating external aggression against South Korea when necessary.

The structure of the US military forces stationed in South Korea—mainly composed of combat battalions optimized for land warfare—reflects its mission focus on the Korean Peninsula, but lacks essential maritime capabilities for emergencies along the first island chain. Unlike previous visits by high-ranking US defense officials to South Korea, Colby did not reiterate the US extended deterrence commitment during this visit. North Korea may interpret this omission as a weakening of the US' resolve to defend South Korea.

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Original article: toutiao.com/article/1856172040620426/

Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.