China says South Korea agrees to boost semiconductor cooperation, while Seoul stays quiet on talks
- Chinese and South Korean trade chiefs meet on sidelines of Apec meeting in Detroit – their first interaction in about a year
- The talks come amid faltering diplomatic ties between the Asian neighbours as Washington rallies allies in tech war
China says it has reached a consensus with South Korea on bolstering cooperation in semiconductors, amid efforts by Washington to rally allies against Beijing in a tech war.
However, Seoul made no mention of discussions between the trade chiefs about the semiconductor sector, noting only that Ahn requested support from Beijing to stabilise the supply and demand of key raw materials and parts.
The talks were the two ministers’ first interaction in about a year and came just weeks after South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol sparked outrage in Beijing for suggesting that “the Taiwan issue is not simply an issue between China and Taiwan”.
President Biden has said that no special support and considerations will be spared for Korean companies’ investment and business activities in particular
South Korea is a powerhouse in the global semiconductor industry, with major companies like Samsung and SK Hynix making the nation a crucial player in both the memory and processing chip markets.