US dispatches Campbell, ‘Korea to Taiwan’, amid repeated tensions between the South and the North during China’s ‘Taiwan encirclement military exercise’
As tensions between the South and the North intensified during China’s ‘Taiwan encirclement military exercise’, the US began adjusting its Indo-Pacific strategy.
China began Taiwan encirclement military exercise on the 14th in response to the ‘Taiwan independence’ remark, and the South and the North are strengthening military tensions between each other, and the White House is dispatching Campbell, the Asia-Pacific coordinator, a strategist for ‘Korean intervention in Taiwan’, and will hold a meeting of the three foreign ministers of the US, Japan, and Korea in Seoul on the 16th.
In response to the inauguration speech of the Taiwanese governor in May, China conducted the ‘Joint Sword-2024A’ military exercise, and North Korea began scattering ‘filth balloons’ in May, leading to a recurring cycle of ‘Taiwan tensions’ and ‘South and North tensions’. On the 14th, China began joint military exercises surrounding Taiwan without a “deadline announcement,” and foreign media outlets reported that “this is an extension of China’s criticism of the Taiwanese president’s National Day speech promoting independence.” According to the New York Times, Reuters, AP, and Yomiuri, Colonel Li Xi, a spokesperson for the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army in the Taiwan Strait, said on the same day, “This is a strong deterrent to the separatist activities of ‘Taiwan independence’ forces, and a legitimate and necessary measure to safeguard national sovereignty and maintain national unity.” Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense issued a statement saying, “We strongly condemn these irrational and provocative actions,” and “We have dispatched troops to respond to China’s exercises.” China named this exercise 'Joint Sword-2024B' and it is an extension of the 'Joint Sword-2024A' exercise that was conducted for two days in May by President Lai Ching-te of Taiwan after his inauguration. At that time, North Korea showed heightened tensions by scattering garbage balloons and 'declaring a break with South Korea'.
This exercise is seen as a response to President Lai's claim of 'Taiwan independence', and the map of the training area announced by Chinese state-run media describes it as a 'siege' as the military training area is concentrated in the six regions surrounding Taiwan.
Reuters reported on the same day that "the Eastern Theater Command of China did not mention when the training would end" and "released a map showing nine areas around Taiwan: two on the east coast of Taiwan, three on the west coast, one in the north, and three areas around Taiwan-controlled islands off the coast of China." The Chinese theater command said the military exercises were focused on “jointly securing comprehensive superiority” in “sea-air combat readiness patrols, blockades of key ports and areas, and attacks on sea and land targets,” adding that the exercises were focused on “sea-air combat readiness patrols, blockades of major ports and areas, and attacks on sea and land targets.” A senior Taiwanese security official, speaking anonymously due to the sensitivity of the situation, told Reuters that China appeared to be practicing blockading Taiwanese ports and international shipping lanes north and south of the island and repelling the arrival of foreign troops. “On the 13th, a Chinese aircraft carrier group sailed south of Taiwan through the Bashi Channel, a strategic chokepoint that separates Taiwan from the Philippines and connects the South China Sea to the Pacific Ocean.” South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense warned North Korea on the 13th that if it threatens the safety of its citizens, “that day will be the end of the North Korean regime.” Kim Yo-jong, Vice Department Director of the Workers' Party of Korea, said in a statement released through the Korean Central News Agency the previous day (the 12th), "The moment a South Korean drone is discovered again in the skies over our capital, a terrible disaster will occur."
Earlier, on the 11th, North Korea released related photos, claiming that South Korea had infiltrated Pyongyang with a drone and scattered leaflets against the North, and the South Korean military authorities stated, "We cannot confirm the truth of North Korea's claim."
Kurt Campbell, who went from being the head of Asia policy at the White House National Security Council (NSC) Indo-Pacific Coordinator to Deputy Secretary of State, is a representative leading strategist for the 'South Korea's intervention in the Taiwan Strait' strategy.
On January 8, 2021, NSC Indo-Pacific Coordinator Kurt Campbell first announced the 'South Korea's intervention in Taiwan' strategy at the Indo-Pacific Strategic Dialogue held by the Center for a New American Security (CNAS), saying, "It is very important that other countries in the region take an interest in maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait."
At the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing at the time, Coordinator Campbell said, Regarding the statement by then Indo-Pacific Commander Philip Davidson that “China could invade Taiwan within six years,” he said, “The leaders of Japan, South Korea, and Australia have issued statements one after another about the importance of stabilizing the Taiwan Strait.”
Coordinator Campbell’s statement, as reported by Voice of America (VOA), is as follows:
“I would simply say that it is also important to recognize that other nations who have interest in the Indo Pacific, have an interest in the maintenance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. You have seen statements to that effect from Japan, from South Korea, from Australia and others. I think you'll hear more from some Europeans about their desire to see the maintenance of peace, stability… ”
In his speech at the Marshall Fund Forum on January 28, 2022, NSC Coordinator Campbell explained the conflict with China following the war in Ukraine, saying that the United States “seems to be entering a period where it must continue to be deeply engaged in two war zones simultaneously,” and that “the United States has engaged in ‘two war zones’ since World War II and the Cold War. It is costly and difficult to engage in ‘two war zones,’ but I think we are entering a period where that is required of the United States and this generation of Americans.”
See <Biden’s China-Russia Disarmament Negotiations: Korea as Leverage, February 8, 2021> <Biden’s Strategy to Separate Iran and China, and Divide Security and Economic Cooperation, January 14, 2021>