It’s called Negotiating.
SK and Japan can afford to pay for their own protection...either to US, or preferably their own MIC.
If South Korea goes over to China for $4 billion dollars, that itself is significant.
Others reported South Korea walked out. Maybe it was mutual?
I’d be surprised if South Korea went ‘all in’ with China.
They must know that China will eventually want to take it all and own you, the way they ‘own’ certain areas in Africa.
I got the impression most South Koreans are fiercely independent. In fact, many of the young people want the USA troops to get out.
The war has been over for 66 years. South Korea is stable. We should leave.
It does seem like a lot. $5B/28,500 = $175,000 per soldier.
As a taxpayer, I am so grateful to see this finally happening. Incidentally, several countries took out their checkbooks to help with the various Gulf conflicts. But, because they are dependent on Middle Eastern oil and the US is not, they should be sharing the whole burden in proportion to their need for ME oil. China is the biggest beneficiary of the US keeping the sea lanes open and ME oil flowing. But they give us nothing but grief. I believe their crash carrier building program is aimed at keeping ME oil flowing, not at the United States.
The US used to keep a carrier group within strike distance of Iran all the time. Now months can go by with no carrier in the region. The US is slowly withdrawing. This necessitates a military buildup in the oil using states.
Every community here has to pay for its police force.
Why is a country we police any different?
Start pulling troops and we’ll get a different tune from the Koreans. What’s another impeachment?
Everyone’s our bud until we make them pay their fair share.
China appears reluctant to crack down on students in Hong Kong. It has made zero progress in taking over nearby Taiwan. I think Chinese domination of South Korea is a bit far-fetched.
BS!
The US should withdraw all forces from Seoul and let them sink or swim.
If they are not willing to pay for their own protection, why should we? So China does not make them their satellite?
That is no loss to us.
And it will incentivize Japan to pay their own way.
Maybe SK would like to sell all their goods to China (which has a surplus of all manufactured goods, cheaper). And be dependent upon China for the free flow of commerce and oil in the pacific.
If so, no sweat off us.
Good...why should TAXPAYERS pay for South Korea defense...Another win...
it’s simple, SK: you no payee, we no stayee ...
I read elsewhere that this is a dress rehearsal for the big fish ... Germany.
Why should South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Germany etc should pay anything for the military protection we give them? We have good credit, we can borrow more money, load it on to the national debt and protect all these countries. Because we are the mighty Super Power! Who gives a damm if our kids and grand kids will be burdened with more national debt which is going to obliterate their economic viability. So long as WE don’t have to pay the debt let us keep protecting all our Allies out of the goodness of our hearts and because we are THE SUPER POWER!
“As a result we cut short our participation in the talks today in order to give the Korea side time to reconsider,” he said in a statement. “We look forward to resuming our negotiations when the Korean side is ready to work on the basis of partnership, on the basis of mutual trust.”
The question is, "Are we protecting the sokoe's border or are they protecting our border?
Do we need them or do they need us?
POTUS is tired of the USA pissing our tax dollars away when the countries we are protecting are living off of the back of US tax payers {me and you}.
THANK GOD FOR PRESIDENT DONALD JOHN TRUMP!!!
Wait for the media to turn this into:
POTUS is trying to bribe another country by threatening to draw down troops, unless SK will pay more.
This is great news! I’m sick of milquetoast, mealymouthed diplomacy, even with our so-called staunched allies. America is no longer the world’s doormat.