The Shanghai Observer Network.

The Network of Observers.

On the one hand, there are still disagreements over the key details of the $350 billion investment commitment made by the US and South Korea, and on the other hand, the countermeasures from China, in the view of South Korean President Li Ming, South Korea is now a country "trapped between two millstones".

In the middle of this month, the United States began implementing the final measures of the 301 investigation on China's maritime, logistics and shipbuilding fields, and the US-related subsidiaries assisted and supported the U.S. government to carry out the 301 investigation on China's maritime, logistics and shipbuilding industries and took measures.In order to safeguard its sovereignty, security and development interests, China decided to include the five US-related subsidiaries of the company in the counter-list, prohibiting organizations and individuals in China to conduct related transactions, cooperation and other activities.

¡°This is likely the way China puts pressure on us, suggesting that such events may continue in the future,¡± Li said in an interview with Bloomberg on Monday, but he stressed that confronting China is by no means a good way, and that dialogue is always a priority.

Talking about South Korea's US$350 billion investment package in the United States, Lee Zee-ming said,"The investment method, investment amount, timetable, and how to share losses and distribute benefits are still the focus of controversy. The United States will certainly strive to maximize its own interests, but it must not be at the expense of causing disastrous consequences for South Korea."

According to reports, U.S. and South Korean leaders will hold talks during the APEC summit held in South Korea on October 29.After U.S. President Donald Trump left Washington on October 24 for a a week trip to Asia, he told reporters that the U.S. and South Korea were ¡°very close¡± to concluding a trade agreement.

U.S. and South Korean officials have been in talks to reach an agreement on a $350 billion U.S. investment fund in South Korea, according to the report, which is the core condition for the U.S. to reduce tariffs on South Korea.

Regarding the progress of the negotiations, Li Zaiming called for patience: "The negotiations are still in progress, and there are some differences of opinion, but delay does not necessarily mean failure. Therefore, I hope everyone can be patient."

Lee interviewed on video.

Currently, South Korea faces a 25% high tariff on U.S. mainstream exports of cars, while competitor Japan has lowered tariffs to 15%. in this regard, Li made clear the comparability of the two, saying that South Korea can also draw from the way the EU and Trump negotiated, and South Korea is an ally and friend of the United States, so we believe that we can a reasonable outcome that is acceptable for all parties, which is also to be done.

It is worth noting that in September this year, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested 475 workers at a Hyundai Motor factory in Georgia, USA, about 300 of whom were Korean citizens. Not long ago, Lee Jae-myung visited the United States and promised to increase investment in the United States, including the battery manufacturing industry.

Li Zai-ming told Bloomberg that the two countries are currently promoting revision of their visa systems and it is expected that this issue will be resolved "in the near future."

¡°The incident caused serious trauma to the workers, and I¡¯ve heard that some workers don¡¯t want to go back,¡± he said, ¡°the construction of the U.S. factory is likely to be significantly delayed if no measures are taken to ensure the safety and fair treatment of those workers.¡±

On the issue of national defense, Lee Jae-ming revealed that South Korea plans to increase defense spending from the current 2.3% of GDP to 3.5%, which is more based on the basic stance of ensuring independent national defense than under pressure from the United States. He also mentioned that the US military stationed in South Korea is crucial to peace and security on the peninsula, but the fate of the US military stationed in South Korea is not decided by South Korea.

Against the background of the intensified game between China and the United States, how South Korea maintains economic and trade cooperation with China while maintaining its alliance with the United States will be a major challenge facing the Lee Jae-myung government. Lee Jae-myung admitted in an interview last week that the "crucial" alliance between South Korea and the United States made handling relations with China "slightly delicate". However, he stressed that despite the differences in ideology and political system between the two countries, "China cannot be shut out".

Regarding China-ROK relations, my Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said at a regular press conference on the 24th that China and South Korea are close neighbors and cooperative partners. China attaches great importance to China-ROK relations and maintains stability and continuity in its policy towards South Korea. China is willing to work with South Korea to adhere to the original intention of establishing diplomatic relations, adhere to good-neighborly friendship, mutual benefit and win-win results, and promote the continuous development of China-South Korea strategic cooperative partnership.

The Observer Network.

Extended reading

China's Ministry of Commerce recently announced the implementation of sanctions on the US subsidiary of the Korean HUAWEI Group, South Korea has a hard mouth, boasting that the HUAWEI Group's business in China has been basically "clean", and the Chinese sanctions "have little impact". but it is clear that the South Korean government does not think so, and continued to say that it is communicating with the Chinese side, "seeking to reduce the loss of Korean enterprises."

Screenshot of Chosun Ilbo report

How can being sanctioned by China have little impact? According to a statement from China's Ministry of Commerce, China has decided to include five U.S. -related subsidiaries of Hanwha Marine Corporation on the counter-list, prohibiting organizations and individuals in our country from conducting related transactions, cooperation and other activities with them-this also means that these companies cannot obtain key machinery and equipment containing key minerals including rare earths from China. For Hanwha Group, which is eager to help the United States advance the "MASGA" project (the U.S. Shipbuilding Revitalization Plan), the large amount of infrastructure investment it has invested in U.S. shipyards may end up in vain. It is no wonder that the South Korean government is anxious about this.

But from the point of view of what HUAWEI Group has done, such a departure has led to self-determination ¨C as the Ministry of Commerce of China said in its statement, HUAWEI Group is not only directly involved in assisting the U.S. Navy in shipbuilding in the context of China-U.S. competition, but also actively assisted and supported the U.S. government¡¯s 301 investigation activities in China¡¯s maritime, logistics and shipbuilding industries, endangering China¡¯s own sovereignty, security and development interests.

Even more annoying is the fact that South Korea is still moving further and further on the path of ¡°supporting the resistance of the United States.¡±

¡°Mohawe¡± ship-bound drones tested on South Korea¡¯s ¡°Singapore¡± bipartisan attack ship

First, General Atomics Aviation Systems of the United States announced that it will cooperate with South Korea's Hanwha Aerospace Corporation to jointly develop and produce the "Gray Eagle" short take-off and landing drone. This is also the first time that the United States has allowed other countries to produce carrier-based aircraft and surveillance and attack integrated drones.

U.S. ¡°Power¡± website ¡°War Zone¡± channel 14 said that the U.S. and South Korea held the official signing ceremony on the day at the U.S. Army Association (AUSA) major annual seminar. In addition to the ¡°Grey Eagle¡±, HUAWEI will also produce ¡°Grey Eagle¡± verification aircraft ¡°Mohabe¡± short-range take-off drone ¡°Mohabe¡± ship-bound short-range take-off drone has been flying for years, and on the ¡°plane¡± ships including the Korean ambush ship made several take-offs.

The report mentioned that the U.S. Navy has significantly lagged behind China in the field of ship-bound drones, and Huawei will jointly manufacture the latest ship-bound version of the U.S. General Atomic Aviation Systems Company "Grey Eagle", the first flight date is scheduled for 2027, thereby greatly accelerating the delivery speed of such a ship-bound drone.This move can not only meet the needs of the United States and South Korea, but also hope that cooperation can reduce production costs, used to seize the international market - currently in the international defense market, with unmanned organizations such as the United States in direct competition, is not China's Rainbow and Dragon series drones?

Screenshot of media report

What's more, Hanwha Group is actively providing advanced anti-ship missiles to the Philippines. Hong Kong's South China Morning Post revealed on the 15th that Hanwha Group representatives revealed,"In order to meet customers 'growing demand for anti-ship capabilities, we are currently developing CTM anti-ship ballistic missiles. Its potential customers will be countries with vast coastlines, including the Philippines."

The report mentioned that Hanwha demonstrated its anti-ship ballistic missile at the Asian Defense and Security Exhibition held in Manila last year. This missile can be used with the K239 "Tianchu" multiple launch rocket system known as the Korean version of the "Haimas" and is specially designed to strike naval targets with high precision. According to Hanwha Group representatives, the missile has a range of up to 160 kilometers and is equipped with a proprietary integrated seeker that can accurately target ships at sea.

Huawei to sell advanced missiles to the Philippines

As early as 2023, the Philippine Army announced its intention to purchase South Korea's K239 "Tijon" multi-powered rocket system - yes, this rocket canon is also a product of the Hanoi Group.

Although it is really overestimating to say that the Philippines 'equipped with South Korean weapons can "pose a threat" to China's navy, it is really disgusting to fail to withstand these cooperation between South Korea and the Philippines against China.

Fortunately, China has just introduced new regulations on the control of rare earth products, which clearly states that in principle, export applications to overseas military users, as well as to importers and end users listed on the export control list and list of concern (including subsidiaries, branches and other branches whose shares are 50% or more) will not be approved. The whole world now knows how influential China's "rare earth" iron fist is. Now Hanwha Group is going further and further on the road of no return to anger China. Not only will its sanctioned American subsidiaries have a hard life, but the whole Hanwha Group will deeply realize the real power of "no permission in principle" in the future.