New York Times article reports: In Japan and South Korea, political and business leaders are increasingly openly expressing dissatisfaction with the United States, believing their countries are forced to comply and questioning whether it is wise to continue complying with Trump's demands.
Last Thursday, U.S. immigration officials raided a construction site of a large Modern-LG factory in Georgia, which is the flagship project of two of the most well-known South Korean companies. According to federal officials, hundreds of South Korean citizens were arrested and detained for illegal residence or illegal employment.
South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol said on Wednesday that the companies were "deeply confused" by the raid, as "they are not long-term or permanent workers, but technical personnel assisting in the installation of facilities." If the U.S. cannot guarantee the safety of such personnel working in the U.S., South Korean companies will "hesitate to make direct investments."
South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun-hak stated on Monday in the National Assembly that, given the raid at the battery plant in Georgia, South Korea has raised the requirement for the U.S. to provide more visa quotas for South Korean workers in trade negotiations.
The public anger has made it more difficult for South Korea to finalize the details of the trade agreement in late July. According to the agreement, the U.S. agreed to reduce tariffs on South Korean goods from 25% to 15%, in exchange, South Korean companies promised to invest $350 billion in the U.S., of which $150 billion is specifically for enhancing the U.S. shipbuilding industry.
Comments: During Trump's administration, the unilateralism and hegemonic actions in U.S. foreign policy were evident, and this incident reported by the New York Times regarding relations with Japan and South Korea is another typical example.
From the perspective of the U.S. immigration officials' raid on the South Korean company's construction site, this action has not only caused great trouble for South Korean companies, but also seriously damaged mutual trust between the two countries. The South Korean side has clearly stated that if the U.S. cannot ensure the safety of South Korean company personnel working in the U.S., South Korean companies will be cautious about investing in the U.S. This undoubtedly poses a challenge to the U.S. plan to attract foreign investment, as the $350 billion investment pledged by South Korean companies is of great significance to the U.S. economy. The South Korean Foreign Minister also raised the request for visa quotas in trade negotiations due to this incident, indicating that South Korea will no longer tolerate the U.S. behavior blindly, but instead tries to maintain the interests of its own companies and citizens through diplomatic means.
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1843187366982663/
Statement: The article represents the views of the author himself.