Wang Yi heads to Seoul as Trump cuts South Korea drills, opening door for China

China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi is set to visit Seoul days after Donald Trump called for the US to scale back military exercises with South Korea, sending ripples of unease through US allies in Asia.

On Sunday, the United States president posted his decision to social media, raising questions about the durability of Washington’s security commitments in a region increasingly defined by competition with Beijing.

He offered several rationales, including cost-saving considerations, a goodwill gesture towards North Korea and dissatisfaction over Korea’s refusal to join the US in the Iran war.

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Trump orders Pentagon chief to cut number of joint military exercises with South Korea

According to observers, such moves threaten to damage alliance coordination, causing disquiet among regional partners and handing China a strategic opening to dilute America’s network of regional partnerships.

Trump posted on Sunday that he had instructed the Pentagon to scale back what he termed “inappropriate and hostile” military drills with South Korea – exercises traditionally aimed at deterring North Korea, a country he described as “unthreatening and respectful” during his time in office.

He added that he had ordered the US defence secretary to “substantially reduce” them, citing Seoul’s reluctance to support America’s efforts towards the “denuclearisation of the Islamic Republic of Iran”.

As Seoul and other US partners navigate the latest shocks, Wang will begin a two-day trip to Seoul on Wednesday, his first solo bilateral exchange trip in five years.