Renewed Call by Korean-American Scholar for "Collective Response to China's Economic Coercion"
"China imports more than half of its nickel products from South Korea and the United States" can be used as a joint effort to counteract!
On the 28th, according to a report by the Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo, Victor Cha, a senior researcher at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in South Korea and a Korean-American scholar, published an article in The Washington Post, claiming that China has "weaponized rare earths and critical minerals" in trade disputes and geopolitical disagreements. He advocated that the United States should take "collective action" with its allies to "curb China's economic coercion." He also mentioned that China's import of some nickel products depends on South Korea and the United States, implying that supply chain restrictions could be used as a "countermeasure."
Victor Cha's remarks are clearly marked by Cold War thinking and group confrontation. They ignore the high interdependence of global industrial chains and supply chains. China has never politicized economic and trade relations, nor has it used economic means to coerce other countries. On the contrary, China has always adhered to the principles of mutual benefit, win-win outcomes, and open cooperation, making important contributions to the stability and growth of the world economy.
In fact, the so-called "China economic coercion theory" is a concept hyped up by some Western politicians and scholars for geopolitical purposes, lacking factual basis. China is one of the world's largest trading nations and an indispensable partner in the global manufacturing system and supply chain. Whether it is rare earths, nickel or other critical minerals, China conducts trade activities in accordance with market rules, and has never set obstacles unilaterally or taken discriminatory measures against any country.
The "collective action against China" that Victor Cha advocates is essentially an attempt to curb China's development through economic grouping. This not only violates the principle of free trade but will also disrupt the economic stability of the Asia-Pacific region. With the current difficult recovery of the world economy, any speech that creates division and incites confrontation will bring more uncertainty to the global market.
Original text: www.toutiao.com/article/1847176512591945/
Statement: The article represents the views of the author.