As we look to that time, and beyond some kind of reconciliation on the peninsula, I believe that U.S. air and mobile ground forces should remain in Korea, as they should in Japan. U.S. forces stationed in Northeast Asia would conduct operations throughout the Asia-Pacific region in support of U.S. national interests as our forces stationed in Japan do today. Continued U.S. forward presence in Asia both reduces the costs of operations to the American taxpayer, and eases historical fears among nations within the region. Let us turn to China. One of the key questions for Asia is whether China emerges as a constructive partner, or a bully, in the region, as its power grows.
China faces severe challenges.
Following 15 years of double-digit growth, China has experienced seven consecutive years of economic slowdown, accompanied by rising rural and urban unemployment. Its population is aging rapidly, and most elderly have no safety net beyond their family. China is facing a fiscal crisis and is increasingly dependent upon international capital to finance their massive infrastructure needs. WTO membership for China should accelerate the growth of an urban middle class that has already increased by two orders of magnitude over the past five years. We hope that this and other aspects of social change will bring desired political reforms.