The US has had nukes in S.Korea since at least 1969. I know, I used to guard them. So for defense of the country the ROK is better off letting us provide a nuclear umbrella. Our nuclear superiority is more than they could ever acquire on their own. China needs to restrain their client state but I fear that the cost of doing so would be for us to cede control of the South China Sea to them to maintain the balance of power on the peninsula. Selling some of our nukes would checkmate the Chinese but would be a pretty gutsy ploy. Not something a Democratic administration would do.
You are right. Not going to happen under Dem's watch. If Trump takes power, this possibility is at play.
As you have noted, China is facing at least two main issues simultaneously. One is the problem in Korean Peninsula, and the other is S. China Sea. China tries to maintain their hold on the Peninsula while expanding their control of S. China Sea.
If a serious conflict breaks out, China will have to make a choice. They cannot deal with both, even with their improved military power. They have few friends in S. East Asia. Without any ally in the region, it is pretty difficult to cope with any military situation if things go hot in Koreas. They faced the same predicament back in 1950. Chinese communists were eager to take Taiwan, but Korean War broke out. Eventually they abandoned their goal of taking Tawain, and had to concentrate on Korean Peninsula.
Instead of us pulling back from S. China Sea, we have to force China to make a choice, and have them make concessions on Korean Peninsula.
81150 ?
Agreed. A friend drew a low number in the draft, and had no desire to go to Vietnam. He was a very intelligent fellow, so he enlisted in the Army for nuclear weapons handling.
He spent a year in South Korea.
Years ago, NK guards at the border filed a complaint about “US hand-held nuclear weapons,” at the DMZ.
An investigation turned up a stainless steel thermos bottle that had been spotted by the Norks.