Monday, March 31, 2025

Tariff Report 002: American Troop Roll Call--South Korea, Japan, China Trade Deal.

number of us soldiers in south korea

As of now, there are approximately 28,500 U.S. troops stationed in South Korea. This includes personnel from the Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marines. The majority are based at Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, which is the largest U.S. overseas military base. Their presence is primarily focused on deterring North Korean aggression and maintaining regional stability1 46.

https://www.perplexity.ai/search/number-of-us-soldiers-in-south-6iNo

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number of us soldiers based in japan

The number of U.S. soldiers stationed in Japan varies slightly across sources:

Approximately 35,688 active-duty personnel are reported as part of the United States Forces Japan (USFJ) under the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command1.
Other sources estimate 53,700 American military personnel stationed in Japan36.
A broader count mentions 60,000 military personnel, which includes servicemembers from the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and Space Force elements4.

The discrepancy may arise from differences in counting active-duty personnel versus total U.S. military presence, including civilians and contractors.

https://www.perplexity.ai/search/number-of-us-soldiers-based-in-RGrvDpZSTNqMvb4pauAy4w

china, south korea, japan trade deal

China, South Korea, and Japan have recently held their first economic dialogue in five years, aimed at strengthening regional trade cooperation and addressing the impact of U.S. tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump. Key developments include:

Consensus on a Trilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA): The trade ministers from the three nations agreed to "closely cooperate for comprehensive and high-level" negotiations toward a South Korea-Japan-China FTA. This agreement seeks to enhance regional and global trade, building on the existing Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which went into effect in 20221 25.
Joint Response to U.S. Tariffs: The three countries have committed to collaboratively addressing U.S. tariffs, particularly those targeting vehicles and auto parts. These tariffs are expected to significantly impact Asian automakers, which are major exporters to the U.S.1 34.
Supply Chain Cooperation: Japan and South Korea aim to source semiconductor raw materials from China, while China is interested in acquiring chip products from both nations. The dialogue also emphasized bolstering supply chain cooperation and discussing export controls1 36.
Challenges: Despite the renewed dialogue, progress on a trilateral FTA has been slow since talks began in 2012. Historical tensions over territorial disputes and Japan's release of wastewater from Fukushima have strained relations among the three countries2 57.

The next meeting is scheduled to take place in Japan, signaling continued efforts toward regional trade integration amid shifting global trade dynamics24.

https://www.perplexity.ai/search/china-south-korea-japan-trade-lkBbAmjBScG.

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number of american soldiers killed in korean war

During the Korean War (1950–1953), approximately 36,574 American soldiers died, including 33,741 battle deaths and 2,833 non-battle deaths2 37. Some sources include a broader figure of 54,246 deaths, which accounts for all worldwide losses during the war period, not limited to the Korean theater13.

https://www.perplexity.ai/search/number-of-american-soldiers-ki-C48hmFOeTV

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Image: https://capitol.wa.gov/discover/artwork-memorials-monuments/korean-war-

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(X:) https://x.com/jameslangelle

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RED FLAG
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There was no North American Treaty Organization, NATO, immediately following the close of World War Two. By the close of the decade, due to pressure from the Soviet Union, particularly in Germany, the alliance was formed with 12 initial members. The concept of “collective security” had been around for over 30 years, at least on the Continent, with respect to the World War One League of Nations; neither the United States nor the Soviet Union were members. (09 March 2025)

Red Flag: The U.S.-Japan Security Pact of 1960
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Part and parcel to how it all unfolded had to do with certain ambiguous positions by the two nations coupled with the American public not totally informed of the agreement. The situation was quite different in Japan. (09 March 2025)

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BORDERLANDS
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Nations are big on treaties, enforcing them is another matter. This paper traces some of the more recent, failed and otherwise, then takes a close look at one of the most controversial in history, The Versailles Treaty at the end of World War One. (09 March 2025)

Ukraine and The Rubio Doctrine The purpose of this report is to test the secretary’s three core principles against the Ukraine conflict to see if they are viable and would have been if he became president in the 2015 election. (09 March 2025)

Ukraine Betrayed: American Robber Barons to Steal Rare Minerals
Ukraine possesses significant reserves of rare earth minerals and other critical raw materials that are essential for modern technology and industry. According to reports, Ukraine has deposits of 22 out of 34 minerals identified as critical by the European Union. (09 March 2025)