News / Military

US leadership at South Korean military base changes

Tuesday, 13 July 2021 6:19 PM [ Last Update: Wednesday, 14 July 2021 2:41 AM ]

US Col. Edward Ballanco wrapped up his final assignment as US Army Garrison Daegu’s commander at Camp Walker, Daegu, South Korea, July 12, 2021. (Photo by US Army)

The US Army Garrison leadership in Daegu, South Korea, has changed hands as the Department of Defense (DoD) raises the alarm over what it sees a growing threat from China.

During a ceremony at Camp Walker -- a US military base in Daegu, South Korea -- on Monday, Col. Edward J. Ballanco relinquished command while Col. Brian P. Schoellhorn assumed it.

A LOOK AT THE USAG DAEGU CHANGE OF COMMAND
U.S. Army Garrison Daegu welcomed a new garrison commander. Col. Brian P. Schoellhorn assumed the duties as the incoming commander and Col. Edward J. Ballanco relinquished duties during a change of command ceremony Monday at Camp Walker. pic.twitter.com/g8DHNbqRiC
— U.S. Army Garrison Daegu (@USAGDaegu) July 13, 2021

Col. Schoellhorn stepped up as the new commander after Col. Ballanco left the post ending his two-year tenure and retiring after 25 years of military service.

Ballanco oversaw four Army camps and supported Navy and Marine Corps installations in the southern part of South Korea, known as Area IV, where approximately 10,000 US soldiers with their families and civilian employees are stationed. The garrison headquartered in the Nam District, Daegu provides installation capability services and quality of life support to the US military forces stationed in Area IV.

Meanwhile, the DOD leadership of the new administration, combatant commanders and members of Congress have condoned the need to flex US military muscle on the Korean Peninsula and beyond as an important means to counter Washington’s regional adversaries North Korea and Russia, as well as main rival, China.

On the other hand, China, which sees the US as the No. 1 threat to security across the globe, has repeatedly warned Washington's leaders against an escalation of tensions due to American military provocations in the region.

China: US itself top threat to global cybersecurity

"The US is in fact the biggest threat to global cybersecurity," says Wang Wenbin, a spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

Beijing, which had hoped for an amelioration of the relations with Washington under President Joe Biden after he succeeded Donald Trump in January, accepted that the Biden administration would pursue the same anti-China policies imposed by the Trump administration.

In the meantime, Washington and Beijing are at odds over an assortment of problems ranging from allegations of Chinese human rights violations in Xinjiang, Beijing's policies in regard to Hong Kong, Taipei and the disputed territories in the South China Sea, as well as the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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