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As things are going China could protect South Korea from North Korea as well as the USA. Also SK wouldn't be in the immediate wrath of China during an conflict escalation between USA and China. Practically SK should have a strong negotiation position against the blackmail demands of Trump. Trump is bringing his enemies closer together and starting to loose allies to the other side too.

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The PRC would be delighted to see South Korea enter the Sinosphere and abandon the US. If nothing else, China would see it as a return to historic norms where most of East Asia serves as tribute states to the Chinese empire.

But also likewise, Korea holds historic antagonism towards China, arguably just as much as it does to Japan. Most of the population would hate such a relationship, and despite some in the left thinking otherwise, most South Koreans still see the US as the favorable partner over China.

But with China’s continued rise, and the US seemingly evolving (irreversibly?) into the MAGA Empire, that perception isn’t guaranteed to never change either. The PRC isn’t doing itself much favors in courting its neighbors, so it’ll become a game of who is worse.

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