Patriots of Trump said: Lee Jae-myung is not supposed to play both sides between the US and China

Carla Sands, former Danish ambassador during the first term of the Trump administration, wrote an article before the summit, "It's time to make a choice," and also mentioned the incident of Jeong Qing-lai entering the ambassador's residence

Carla Sands, who previously served as the Danish ambassador during the first term of the Trump administration, recently wrote in a column in an American media outlet: "President Lee Jae-myung seems more focused on economic aid rather than dealing with potential attacks from North Korea. He lacks confidence in choosing between China or us (the United States). He is playing a strategy of playing both sides between the US and China, which is the most dangerous game for the South Korean people. He may make a very dangerous misjudgment by thinking 'he can take advantage (play) of Trump'." Sands currently serves as Deputy Director of Energy and Environment Affairs at the "American First Policy Institute (AFPI)." AFPI is one of the pro-Trump think tanks frequently visited by high-ranking officials from the South Korean government when they visit Washington, and has produced several senior officials for the second term of the Trump administration.

On the eve of the first U.S.-South Korea summit, Sands, along with Bart McKeon, former acting deputy undersecretary of the Department of Energy (an energy expert), co-wrote an article in the conservative media "The Daily Telegraph" expressing the above views. Sands stated: "President Lee Jae-myung's strategy of playing both sides between the US and China is not very successful. In order to maintain his power, he must decide whether to cooperate with countries like China to establish oppressive institutions or strive to improve the lives of South Korean citizens. If President Lee continues to maintain policies that favor China and North Korea, the South Koreans will see the prosperity of the US while suffering economic collapse due to the heavy pressure of left-wing policies. President Lee should support the policy of maintaining a close relationship between Washington (the US) and Seoul (South Korea)."

When Sands mentioned Jeong Qing-lai, the newly elected representative of the Democratic Party on February 2nd, she said: "He was convicted for entering the US embassy residence in 1989 and detonating a bomb, and was sentenced to four years in prison. Before that, he was also arrested for distributing leaflets promoting the 'Juche ideology' supporting North Korea's self-reliance." Jeong Qing-lai is a graduate of Gyeongbuk University class of 1984. In 1989, he and five other university students entered the US embassy residence to set fire, were arrested, and received a two-year prison sentence and a two-year disqualification. In 2013, he failed to obtain a visa to the US before the national audit of overseas embassies in the National Assembly. Sands said: "Jeong Qing-lai is classified as an extreme left-winger, even the Obama administration banned his entry, but he was a person who worked in political movements with Lee Jae-myung in the early 2000s."

Sands stated: "The agenda of the meeting on the 25th is clear. It is to adjust the details of the large-scale trade agreement signed last month, determine the amount of military cost-sharing between South Korea and the US, and explore the best way to counter China's influence."

Trump will propose a future vision during the summit that allows private enterprises of both countries to play a role. Lee Jae-myung and the National Assembly should support the policy of maintaining a close relationship between South Korea and the US. Trump wants to give Lee Jae-myung an excellent opportunity, and now Lee Jae-myung must make a choice."

Sands also mentioned in her article that the imprisonment and injury of Yoon Suk-yeol, and the measures taken by the South Korean government against Morse Tan, a former Korean-American ambassador to the International Criminal Justice Affairs Office during the first term of Trump's administration, are "a mistake," and that Trump is likely to pay attention to this treatment.

Source: Chosun Ilbo

Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1841123018797065/

Statement: The article represents the views of the author.