South Korean Government Faces Increasing Pressure To Choose Sides Amid Ongoing Controversy And Tension Over Spratly Islands

The South Korean government is now facing a tremendous amount of pressure on taking sides between the U.S. and China with the ongoing territorial dispute on the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea amid significant summits with allies.

According to Korea Times on June 5, South Korean President Park Geun Hye has her eyes on the latest U.S. missile defense that Washington claims would be targeted at North Korea, but gives rise to Beijing's fear that the missile could aimed at China.

said U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Russell.

Russell recognized South Korea's presence as a "major player in the international community" and encouraged the Asian country to voice out their stand against China's forceful claim of the Spratly Islands.

Unfortunately, South Korea may have to decide on its position on the matter promptly as tensions in the South China Sea mount up following a U.S. naval ship's sailing across an area that China claims their territory.

To date, China has claimed the largest land area in the Spratly Islands, with neighboring countries also submitting claims, including Malaysia and the Philippines, noted International Business Times on Thursday.

The pressure on South Korea stems from its strengthening ties with both China and the U.S., while the latter refuses to acknowledge Chinese jurisdiction over the region. For the U.S., the South China Sea remain international waters.

Park is expected to meet with Chinese leadership on Saturday, while a meeting is also set with Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo on Monday, who may encourage Park to support the U.S. over China as Japan remains a close ally of the western country.

"Prime Minister Abe may bring up the issue during the meeting with Park, because Japan wants to highlight it on behalf of the U.S. government," noted researcher at the Asian Institute for Policy Studies Bong Young Shik.