Analysis: Limited debate and extremist ideology cloud South Korea's position on Taiwan

South Korea’s fallback position of diplomatic ambiguity on Taiwan will be difficult to sustain under a Trump Administration.

Significance. South Korea’s lack of discussion on a Taiwan conflict leaves its leadership and public unprepared. As a key U.S. ally and regional player, South Korea will face pressure to take a position. However, the debate remains ideologically constrained, preventing a clear diplomatic strategy. This lack of preparedness will lead to reactive policymaking, economic exposure, and weakened diplomatic leverage.

Analysis. South Korea’s often stated position on a potential Taiwan Straits crisis is shaped by its strategic imperative to prioritize security on the Korean Peninsula. While Seoul nominally supports regional stability and maintains strong ties with the U.S., its fallback position is that any military or diplomatic commitments must be secondary to the immediate threat posed by North Korea. This stance allows South Korea to avoid entanglement in cross-strait tensions while reinforcing its longstanding policy that deterrence and stability on the peninsula take precedence over broad…