The United States, Taiwan and China: Any Lessons for South Korea?

Abstract

Many changes in the world have occurred during the latter years of the 20th century: the end of empires, the decolonization, the end of the Cold War, the process of democratization, the revolution in science and technology, the explosion and aging of the World's population. But in terms of security, China (Taiwan and the Mainland) and Korea (South and North) have remained relatively unchanged over the past half century and continue to pose major threats to regional and World peace and stability and remain paramount challenges to ongoing U.S. policy. This paper shows that There are some strikingly obvious similarities and dissimilarity between the Taiwan and South Korea situations and three lessons which South Korea may draw from a comparison of the two triangular relationships. In this respect, this paper contends that the seeds of these global changes are already beginning to take root in China and North Korea, and that eventually they will give increasing promise of reconciliation and peaceful reunification in East Asia.