Emerging China's Challenge to the United States in the Gulf and Implications for South Korea

As the U.S.-China rivalry intensifies, South Korea has faced unprecedented pressure from both countries, and how it should respond has become a key issue. This study explores China's emergence as a challenger to U.S. dominance in the Gulf region and its implications for South Korea. Since the establishment of the Carter Doctrine in 1980, the United States has recognized the strategic importance of the Gulf and assumed the role of guardian to the entire region. However, President Obama's "Pivot to Asia" and Trump's retrenchment from costly foreign commitments marked a substantial shift in U.S. foreign policy. Consequently, this paper will assess the growing cooperation between China and the Gulf states in the midst of a perceived withdrawal of the United States from the region. It also attempts to reveal China's strategies that have the potential to challenge U.S. hegemony and growing U.S. vigilance against China's assertiveness in the region. By examining these questions, it is able to suggest implications for the South Korean government.