The South Korean foreign policy and security establishment faces a painful and difficult position: The country borders a belligerent, nuclear-armed dictatorship in North Korea, and it is dependent on a long-time ally — the U.S. — that is declining in relative strength and led by a mercurial leader who is skeptical of alliances.

China, the emerging hegemon in the Indo-Pacific region, could be an alternative partner to Seoul, offering security and stability against DPRK aggression.

But there are few signs that it is prepared to entertain such a role for itself, even as Washington seems to