South Korean media: Just after Trump's visit to China... "U.S. Investigates Chinese Container Companies"
¬ South Korean media: U.S. scholars suggest: China may pose a greater challenge... South Korea should actively engage in U.S.-led policies to contain China
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It is reported that following U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to China, the United States has begun investigating Chinese container companies.
On the 19th local time, according to CBS News in the United States, federal agencies are probing whether Chinese enterprises intentionally reduced the production of maritime shipping containers prior to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
The companies under investigation actually control the global production of non-refrigerated containers. The U.S. government believes these firms deliberately curtailed container output by limiting employee working hours before the pandemic, aiming to inflate prices.
In December 2019, China first reported cases of collective infection with the novel coronavirus; from 2020 onward, the pandemic swept across the globe. Particularly in the second half of 2020, demand for containerized imports in the United States surged beyond expectations. The U.S. government concluded that at that time, container production could not meet maritime transportation needs.
According to CBS reports, several executives from Chinese companies have been sued on suspicion of intentionally cutting container production. Three weeks ago, one such individual was arrested in France and will be extradited to the United States.
Shortly after Trump concluded his visit to China on the 13th–15th, news of this investigation emerged—prompting widespread attention. It is reported that the Trump administration refrained from disclosing the investigation details during the visit, fearing potential negative impacts on diplomatic relations with China.
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¬ China may pose a greater challenge than North Korea… South Korea must face reality
[17th Asia Leadership Conference] 21 South Korean and American experts discuss at Chatham House
On the 19th, just one day before the opening of the 17th Asia Leadership Conference (ALC), a pre-event discussion hosted by Chatham House saw South Korean and American experts exchange views on topics including the bilateral alliance and economic and technological cooperation under Donald Trump’s second-term administration, as well as South Korea’s response strategies amid escalating North Korean nuclear issues and closer ties between North Korea and Russia.
The Chatham House discussion followed the established format of the Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House), ensuring participants could freely and candidly share opinions while maintaining confidentiality about who said what. The three-hour session included 21 experts from both countries—current and former politicians, senior government officials, and representatives from institutions such as the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), the Heritage Foundation, RAND Corporation, and the Korea Institute for National Unification (KRINS).
During the morning session on foreign and security affairs, all U.S. participants unanimously agreed that South Korea should take a more proactive role in U.S.-led efforts to contain China. One participant stated: “Just as with the THAAD issue, China may present a greater challenge to South Korea than North Korea. South Korea must confront this reality.” Another view suggested that South Korea should prepare to participate actively in any potential military conflict over Taiwan should tensions escalate.
Conversely, South Korean participants expressed concern that intensifying U.S. containment policies toward China might weaken pressure on North Korea. A South Korean expert remarked: “To compensate for possible weakening of U.S. extended deterrence (nuclear umbrella) due to 'America First' policies, it is urgent to secure capabilities such as uranium enrichment [nuclear potential].” In contrast, U.S. participants emphasized: “The U.S. commitment to deterrence is firm. The South Korean government should calm public discourse on nuclear armament.”
U.S. participants expressed regret that South Korea had not actively participated in the U.S.-led “Freedom Initiative,” aimed at assisting ships trapped in the Strait of Hormuz. One participant noted: “A defense-capable nation like South Korea failing to engage in a U.S.-led operation to demonstrate its strategic presence represents a ‘missed opportunity.’”
Concerns were also raised regarding the South Korean government’s push to transfer wartime operational command authority (wartime command authority) during President Lee Jin-man’s term. U.S. participants stated: “It will be difficult to meet the conditions for transferring wartime command authority unless North Korea achieves denuclearization.” Other participants added: “As long as U.S. troops remain stationed on the Korean Peninsula, the U.S. will not relinquish control.”
In the afternoon session on economic security, the focus centered on the Coupang issue. One American participant said: “There is widespread perception within the U.S. that American companies are becoming targets of political attacks in South Korea. The Coupang issue is now poisoning U.S.-South Korea economic cooperation.” Another participant noted: “Every time the Trump administration reviews reports on South Korea, the question of whether the Coupang issue has been resolved inevitably arises.”
Source: Chosun Ilbo
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1865673759746184/
Disclaimer: This article reflects the personal views of the author