In the context of the prolonged and structured U.S.-China strategic competition, the three countries which we examine - the United States, China, and the Republic of Korea (ROK) - must find ways to maximize their respective national interests and value. Nevertheless, due to a lack of mutual understanding between the three countries, they are focusing on attacking each other’s vulnerabilities rather than on long-term strategies for cooperation and competition, thus maximizing their costs. This study is motivated by the need to discuss an approach that conceptualizes the U.S.-China-ROK triangle as a multi-dimensional matrix to address these issues.

This study aims to examine points of conflict and interdependence within the trilateral relationship between the Republic of Korea, the United States, and China. As the dynamics in the trilateral relationship become more complex, progress can be limited and strategic planning becomes more challenging. Thus, this study begins with the premise that it is difficult to perform three-dimensional analysis by examining only the interaction of the three bilateral relationships that form a triangle. In addition to demonstrating the demand for each other, as well as conflicts that may result from consideration of core interests in the interaction of bilateral relations, this study seeks to explore the possibility of stereoscopic and three-dimensional analysis of trilateral relations as a whole.

Building upon this study, the United States and Republic of Korea should work in the direction of expanding their intersecting areas while reducing areas of divergence. The ROK’s strategy should be to increase convergence with the United States and decrease divergence with China. By doing so, it can expand the space for coexistence with China and strengthen its trust relationship with the United States. With the intersection of the U.S.-Korea relationship expanding, it is natural for crises in the Sino-Korea relationship to arise, but there are gaps and places of coexistence within the U.S.-China strategic competition if the parties understand each other’s priorities and red lines and expand the intersections within Korea-China relations.

국문요약

제1부 시진핑 신시대 한·미·중 삼각관계의 복합성과 새로운 균형 모색

제1장 서론
1. 연구의 배경과 목적
2. 문제 제기
3. 연구 방법

제2장 시진핑 신시대의 중국
1. 시진핑 신시대의 함의
2. 민족주의와 사회주의 이념의 강화

제3장 미·중 전략경쟁의 영향
1. 시진핑 정부의 전략과 미국의 대응
2. 미국 탈동조화 전략의 한계
3. 전략경쟁으로 소모되는 미국과 중국의 국력

제4장 한·미·중 삼각관계에 대한 매트릭스 분석
1. 한·미·중 삼각관계의 복합성
2. 한·미·중 삼국의 상호의존성과 변화 요인

제5장 한·미·중 삼국의 새로운 균형 모색
1. 한·미·중 삼각관계의 양자적 교집합과 차집합
2. 삼각관계 속 한·미 동맹의 새로운 균형
3. 한국의 대중국 전략 목표와 새로운 균형

제6장 결론
1. 결론
2. 시사점

제2부 미국 싱크탱크 석학들과의 대담

1. 문제 제기
2. 미국 싱크탱크 전문가들과의 대담 및 세미나 정리
3. 미국 싱크탱크 및 석학들과의 대담이 남긴 것: 미국에 대한 재평가와 한국의 미래

참고문헌

Executive Summary