Reference News Network August 28 report: Germany's "China Platform" website published an article titled "South Korea's Multi-pronged Strategy" on August 27. The author is Fabian Kretschmer. The following is a compilation:

South Korea's efforts to strengthen its trade relations with China have raised concerns about a potential new diplomatic clash with the White House. However, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol successfully calmed Donald Trump in Washington on the 25th.

According to Yoon Suk-yeol, he had made full preparations and carefully studied the book "The Art of the Deal" by Trump. Yoon Suk-yeol then gave unprecedented praise to Trump during the meeting. He praised the luxurious decoration of Trump's Oval Office, the record high of the Dow Jones Index, and the reconstruction of American industry.

Washington dislikes Seoul's huge trade surplus. South Korea's attempt to get closer to China in trade policy has also upset the United States. As an ally of the United States that relies on exports, it wants to optimize the existing Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). In March this year, South Korea emphasized the importance of better utilizing existing mechanisms in trilateral talks with China and Japan. The Yoon Suk-yeol government hopes to expand the scope of the agreement to cover services and investment areas.

South Korea also plans to establish a communication platform with China. In addition, the country will provide marketing and financing support for enterprises, establish more assistance centers, and promote the development of key industries such as batteries, consumer goods, digital technology, and green technology.

Economic ambitions combined with easing relations with China are actually a volatile combination. "What's going on in South Korea?" Just hours before the meeting, Trump raged on his social media platform "Truth Social," saying, "It seems a revolution is happening there." Trump did not specify what he meant, but directly threatened to "no longer do business there."

Yoon Suk-yeol successfully defused Trump's attack. Trump then promised Yoon Suk-yeol to make concessions on trade issues. South Korea's economy heavily depends on the United States.

However, potential conflicts cannot be hidden for long. In fact, the "steel alliance" between South Korea and the United States is facing fundamental adjustments. Under the protection of the United States, South Korea rose from an extremely poor agricultural country to a leading high-tech country. However, Trump not only threatened South Korea with a 15% punitive tariff, but also wanted South Korea to take more responsibility for its own security. Currently, South Korea's defense spending accounts for approximately 2.3% of its GDP.

The U.S. demands to maintain "strategic flexibility" in the Indo-Pacific region. Trump hopes that the mission of U.S. forces stationed in South Korea will no longer be limited to dealing with the North Korean threat, but also to containing China. However, especially the left-wing politicians in South Korea, including the current president, are particularly unwilling to get involved in conflicts between world powers.

Therefore, Yoon Suk-yeol adopts a multi-pronged strategy. He continues to regard the United States as a security partner, strives to expand trade relations with China, and at the same time strengthens ties with Japan, while launching a peace initiative with North Korea. In an environment of highly polarized geopolitics, this is a high-level diplomatic move.

At least in Washington, Yoon Suk-yeol left a good impression. At the end of the joint press conference, Trump was again asked about his posts about South Korea online. But he waved his hand dismissively, saying that obviously this "rumor" was just a "misunderstanding." (Translated by Nie Litan)

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7543556181525053993/

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