Advertisement
South Korea’s delicate US-China balancing act as Chip 4, IPEF limits room for Seoul, Beijing to manoeuvre
- South Korea is considered an integral part of the US-led Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) and Chip 4 alliance
- But Beijing has protested that both are Washington’s plans to contain China and exclude it from various supply chains
Reading Time:3 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
4
As South Korea is increasingly being forced to choose sides between the United States and China, Seoul and Beijing have been encouraged to work out areas for substantial cooperation, which could potentially create “some room” for the Yoon administration to manoeuvre.
South Korea is considered an integral part of the US-led Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) and Chip 4 alliance, both of which Beijing protests as Washington’s plans to contain China and exclude it from various supply chains.
Beijing has been putting pressure on the Korean government to not join the arrangements, with Seoul continuously emphasising that it is focused solely on its own national interests.
Advertisement
“We must participate in IPEF, as our national interest will be gravely damaged if we miss out on such a process of making the rules [for regional trade],” Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol said as the IPEF was launched in May.
South Korea really has no intention to exclude or be hostile to China
Similar exchanges took place between Beijing and Seoul regarding the Chip 4 alliance, which also includes fellow major semiconductor industry players Japan and Taiwan.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Select Voice
Choose your listening speed
Get through articles 2x faster
1.25x
250 WPM
Slow
Average
Fast
1.25x