Meeting of South Korea's leader with Trump amid China's prominent presence

The United States has identified China as its biggest security threat, a shift that is causing ripples in the region, particularly in South Korea. This assertion comes as tens of thousands of U.S. troops have long been stationed in South Korea to deter North Korea.

The current president of South Korea, Lee Jae Myung, will meet with President Donald Trump for the first time in Washington on Monday. During their meeting, both leaders are expected to discuss a range of issues, including their shared interest in meeting with North Korea's leader, Kim Jong Un.

However, the security of South Korea is at the forefront of the discussions. Trump has demanded a $350 billion investment package from South Korea and an increase in South Korea's annual contribution to the upkeep of U.S. troops on its soil to $10 billion. The Trump administration is also pushing for South Korea to take greater responsibility for its own defense, a demand that has sparked concerns in Seoul.

Officials in Seoul are worried that this increased "strategic flexibility" could leave them more vulnerable to the North and increase the chances of the South getting sucked into a war over Taiwan. Some South Koreans are even considering the possibility of defending their country without U.S. troops.

In a bid to improve bilateral ties and better cooperate with the U.S. to contain China and North Korea, Lee Jae Myung and Shigeru Ishiba, the Japanese prime minister, agreed to strengthen their alliance during a meeting in Tokyo.

The U.S. is expanding the role of its troops based in South Korea to help contain China. However, some policy analysts in Washington suggest that the U.S. military should reduce its presence in South Korea due to constraints in sending troops elsewhere.

The U.S. is also prioritising the defense of Taiwan from Chinese aggression. Gen. Xavier Brunson, the top U.S. military commander in Korea, stated that the U.S. might not require South Korea to join a conflict between Taiwan and China.

Surveys indicate that a majority of South Korean citizens want their country to build its own nuclear weapons instead of relying on the U.S. for protection. This sentiment is a reflection of the growing unease in South Korea about its security and the role of the U.S. in the region.

The U.S. and South Korea are yet to finalize the details of a trade deal agreed upon last month, another point of contention in the upcoming talks between Trump and Lee Jae Myung.

The relationship between the two leaders, both of whom have survived assassination attempts before taking office, will be crucial in navigating these complex issues. It is hoped that their meeting will lead to a clearer understanding and a path forward for both countries.