Korean Right-Wing Media: "South Korea Satisfying Both the US and China? It's an Insult to the US"

¬ Brian Mast, Chairman of the US House Committee on Foreign Affairs, said so, as the US continues to warn "Don't Try to Have Your Cake and Eat It Too."

Recently, the US government and its allies have been continuously urging South Korea and other friendly countries to "take a clear stance on containing China." The Trump administration has expressed through various channels that it will not tolerate the so-called "security relying on the US and economy on China" or "balancing diplomacy" attitude.

On local time 24th, Brian Mast, chairman of the US House Committee on Foreign Affairs, stated: "Some people in South Korea are trying to satisfy both the US and China," "but if you try to hold both sides, you will ultimately suffer losses." That day, he participated in a meeting held by the Gold International Strategy Institute (GIA) in Washington D.C., and made a speech via video. He said, "The attempt to support both sides (US and China) will be seen as an insult by the US, ultimately weakening the entire alliance." This statement is considered a warning to South Korea that as an ally, it cannot balance between the US and China. He also said, "Trying to support both boats with one hand on this boat and the other on that boat will never succeed," "I also used this metaphor to describe the relationship between the US and its allies."

At the meeting, a South Korean participant asked, "What do you think about the future of the Republic of Korea-US alliance?" When answering this question, he issued the above warning message. The position of the chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs involves budget approval power over foreign affairs and foreign aid, and thus holds significant influence over the composition of US foreign policy. Mast's district is in Florida, which is classified as part of the mainstream MAGA (Make America Great Again) faction of the Trump administration. He entered the House of Representatives in 2017, is a five-term congressman, served in the US Army for 12 years, and was a combat veteran in Afghanistan.

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Mast said, "The US must be seen as the only partner that provides value that no other country can provide, and must not be exploited," "if alliances only make demands on the US, they cannot enter the stage of establishing a real partnership." In other words, South Korea and others should take more responsibility in issues such as containing China.

He said, "When many people lift a heavy object together, some people may groan but actually don't contribute. This is similar to the situation between countries." These remarks are interpreted as criticism of some allies' "free-riding" behavior. He mentioned that Trump pressured NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) members to increase their defense spending ratios, saying, "Trump is trying to reset (the US's foreign relations), getting rid of the dependency relationship where the US does everything, so that the US is not exploited and its help is not taken for granted."

In May, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated in a speech: "I know that many countries are facing the temptation of economic cooperation with China while maintaining defense cooperation with the US," "in important regions, we will not allow our allies and partners to fall under China's influence." This is equivalent to a warning to certain countries in the Indo-Pacific region not to pursue "security relying on the US and economy on China." In June, Steve Bannon, a former senior White House strategist influential in the MAGA camp, told this newspaper: "South Korea cannot find a balance between the US and China," "South Korea must take a clear stance and not let China exert influence over its country."

In June, the White House made its first comment on President Lee Jae-myung's election, stating: "Still expresses concern and opposition to China's intervention and influence." The congratulatory statement also unusually mentioned a third country - China, with analysts suggesting that this reflects the US's negative attitude toward Lee Jae-myung's so-called "pragmatic diplomacy" based on the ROK-US alliance to manage the ROK-China relationship. Recently, South Korea and the US launched a "modernization consultation" including the re-adjustment of the role and responsibilities of the US forces stationed in South Korea. Behind this is the US's belief that South Korea should bear more defense costs to contain China and play a leading role.

Source: Chosun Ilbo

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1838883805497546/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author himself