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tures non-lethal humanitarian assis-

military attack. Despite the risk, no deploy-

tance including English-language

ment seems more important in the view of the

training, training for military engi-

Pentagon: "The security alliance between the

neers, medical exercises, and assis-

United States and the Republic of Korea

tance to the Royal Government's

(ROK) serves as the foundation on which all

efforts to reintegrate Khmer Rouge

U.S. diplomatic, defense, and economic efforts

defectors into society. The United

on the Korean Peninsula rest." DOD acknowl-

States has a strong interest in, and

edges the decline in Pyongyang's military

willingness to support, Cambodian

capabilities but nevertheless warns that

military reforms.10

"North Korea is still capable of inflicting terri-

ble destruction on South Korea."17 Which, of

Hong Kong

course, in the Pentagon's view, justifies main-

tenance of the American presence to help deter

The administration worries that "China's

an attack.

rise as a major power presents an array of

But that is not all. The administration "wel-

potential challenges." Yet DOD continues to

comes the public statements of ROK

conduct 60 to 80 port calls in Hong Kong,

President Kim Dae-Jung affirming the value of

now administered by China. Explains the

the bilateral alliance and the U.S. military pres-

Pentagon, doing so "serves as symbolic sup-

ence even after reunification of the Korean

port for the continued autonomy of Hong

peninsula."18 Reunification would presumably

Kong."11

end the only serious threat against the South,

Japan

but no matter. According to Washington,

"The U.S. strongly agrees that our alliance and

America's alliance with Japan is described

military presence will continue to support sta-

as "the linchpin of our security strategy in

bility both on the Korean Peninsula and

Asia."12 Secretary of State Madeleine Albright

throughout the region after North Korea is no

insists the alliance is "rock solid for the 21st

longer a threat."19

century."13 DOD acknowledges that global

changes have challenged "some assumptions

Laos

about the purpose and role of the alliance."

But never mind: "Both sides have moved

America's loss in Vietnam and Cambodia

actively over the past three years to update the

was accompanied by a different kind of loss in

framework and structure of joint cooperation

Laos, where the communist Pathet Lao took

to reflect the new environment."14

control without as destructive a civil war. Like

Washington's

many other communist states, Laos has

The latest report boasts that "we have

moved away from doctrinaire Marxist-

strengthened our alliance with Japan through

most dangerous

Leninism. Now, declares the administration,

the April 1996 Joint Security Declaration and

commitment

the United States not only wants to improve

the September 1997 revised Guidelines for

economic and political relations (a perfectly

U.S.-Japan Defense Cooperation."15 Although

remains that to

legitimate objective) but also "remains com-

the Marine Expeditionary Force stationed on

South Korea.

mitted to exploring ways of broadening and

Okinawa is primarily intended as backup for a

Nowhere else are

developing our military relationship with

renewed Korean war, Defense Secretary Cohen

Laos."20

visited Japan and asked, "Who in the U.S.

so many U.S. sol-

administration has ever said they would pull

diers so vulnera-

Mongolia

out troops after the unification of the Korean

peninsula?"16

The Clinton administration does not

ble to military

believe itself confined to traditional security

attack.

Korea

relationships. The Pentagon titled one section

of its report "Enhancing Nascent Relations

Washington's most dangerous commit-

with Mongolia." A distant nation surrounded

ment remains that to South Korea. Nowhere

by China and Russia (and long dominated by

else are so many U.S. soldiers so vulnerable to

4