Rethinking United States Military Bases in East Asia

Abstract

Background: Abuses against local populations by US military members stationed in the Republic of Korea (ROK) and Okinawa, Japan have complicated regional diplomatic agendas and security relationships. The initial raison d'etre for a US presence in the region, the Cold War, no longer exists. According to the 2015 US National Security Strategy, a perpetual forward deployment in Northeast Asia is essential to US security interests. Increased capability and aggression of the People's Republic of China (PRC), the gradual rearmament of Japan, a resilient and nuclear Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) regime, and a changing security environment necessitates a reassessment of regional threats and the sustainability of the current regional US military presence.