The Three Enduring Legacies of the Pacific War in East Asia
The Pacific War left deep footprints in East Asia. Though 75 years have passed since the war ended, East Asia is still not free from its legacies.
In this report, Cheol-Hee Park looks into three legacies of the Pacific War still impacting East Asia today. Dr. Park argues that, although 75 years have passed since the war ended, East Asia is still not free from its legacies. This is especially the case across three specific issues: a divided Korean peninsula, the United States’ alliance system, and the unresolved burden of history. Dr. Park’s article reminds us why remembering the Pacific War and understanding its legacy remains important for understanding geopolitics in East Asia today.
This article is part of the Asia Program’s Legacy of the Pacific War series.
Author
Indo-Pacific Program
The Indo-Pacific Program promotes policy debate and intellectual discussions on US interests in the Asia-Pacific as well as political, economic, security, and social issues relating to the world’s most populous and economically dynamic region. Read more
Hyundai Motor-Korea Foundation Center for Korean History and Public Policy
The Center for Korean History and Public Policy was established in 2015 with the generous support of the Hyundai Motor Company and the Korea Foundation to provide a coherent, long-term platform for improving historical understanding of Korea and informing the public policy debate on the Korean peninsula in the United States and beyond. Read more
