{"id":40431,"date":"2025-11-02T16:26:49","date_gmt":"2025-11-02T16:26:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/?p=40431"},"modified":"2025-11-02T16:26:49","modified_gmt":"2025-11-02T16:26:49","slug":"us-china-tensions-south-korea-stuck-in-middle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/2025\/11\/02\/us-china-tensions-south-korea-stuck-in-middle\/","title":{"rendered":"How U.S.-China tensions leave countries like South Korea stuck in the middle : NPR"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <script data-jetpack-boost=\"ignore\" async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1669381584671856\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<!-- Africa tv video display -->\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1669381584671856\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"3579572842\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"auto\"\r\n     data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\r\n<script data-jetpack-boost=\"ignore\">\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"storytext\">\n<div id=\"resg-s1-96253\" class=\"bucketwrap image large\">\n<div class=\"imagewrap has-source-dimensions\" data-crop-type=\"\" style=\"&#10;        --source-width: 6574;&#10;        --source-height: 4383;&#10;    \">\n        <picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/6574x4383+0+0\/resize\/400\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fef%2F05%2F1c2797e24a9a9dcde5ecf12356d7%2Fap25305628756539.jpg 400w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/6574x4383+0+0\/resize\/600\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fef%2F05%2F1c2797e24a9a9dcde5ecf12356d7%2Fap25305628756539.jpg 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1200w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/6574x4383+0+0\/resize\/1600\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fef%2F05%2F1c2797e24a9a9dcde5ecf12356d7%2Fap25305628756539.jpg 1600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/6574x4383+0+0\/resize\/1800\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fef%2F05%2F1c2797e24a9a9dcde5ecf12356d7%2Fap25305628756539.jpg 1800w\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/6574x4383+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fef%2F05%2F1c2797e24a9a9dcde5ecf12356d7%2Fap25305628756539.jpg\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1025px) 650px, calc(100vw - 30px)\" class=\"img\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"\/><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/How-US-China-tensions-leave-countries-like-South-Korea-stuck-in.jpg?w=640&#038;ssl=1\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/6574x4383+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fef%2F05%2F1c2797e24a9a9dcde5ecf12356d7%2Fap25305628756539.jpg\" class=\"img\" alt=\"President Donald Trump shakes hands with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung as he receives a gift of a gold crown and an award of the Grand Order of Mugunghwa, not seen, during a high honor ceremony at the Gyeongju National Museum in Gyeongju, South Korea, Oct. 29, 2025.\" fetchpriority=\"high\"\/>\n        <\/picture>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"credit-caption\">\n<div class=\"caption-wrap\">\n<div class=\"caption\" aria-label=\"Image caption\">\n<p>\n                President Donald Trump shakes hands with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung as he receives a gift of a gold crown and an award of the Grand Order of Mugunghwa, not seen, during a high honor ceremony at the Gyeongju National Museum in Gyeongju, South Korea, Oct. 29, 2025.<br \/>\n                <b class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><\/p>\n<p>                    Mark Schiefelbein\/AP<\/p>\n<p>                <\/b><br \/>\n                <b class=\"hide-caption\"><b>hide caption<\/b><\/b>\n            <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>            <b class=\"toggle-caption\"><b>toggle caption<\/b><\/b>\n    <\/div>\n<p>    <span class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><\/p>\n<p>        Mark Schiefelbein\/AP<\/p>\n<p>    <\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>GYEONGJU, South Korea \u2014 President Trump sat down with President Xi Jinping of China on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation convention (APEC) in South Korea last week.<\/p>\n<p>The leaders of the world&#8217;s biggest economies met at the airport in Busan, an hour&#8217;s drive away from the APEC host city of Gyeongju, for just an hour and 40 minutes.<\/p>\n<div id=\"resnx-s1-5594836-100\" class=\"bucketwrap internallink insettwocolumn inset2col \">\n<div class=\"bucket img\">\n                  <picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2614x2614+654+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fab%2Fcc%2Fb19634e945598e22fd8a68dc00b7%2Fap25303182109018.jpg\" data-original=\"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1762100807_470_How-US-China-tensions-leave-countries-like-South-Korea-stuck-in.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2614x2614+654+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fab%2Fcc%2Fb19634e945598e22fd8a68dc00b7%2Fap25303182109018.jpg\" data-format=\"webp\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" type=\"image\/webp\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2614x2614+654+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fab%2Fcc%2Fb19634e945598e22fd8a68dc00b7%2Fap25303182109018.jpg\" data-original=\"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1762100807_470_How-US-China-tensions-leave-countries-like-South-Korea-stuck-in.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2614x2614+654+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fab%2Fcc%2Fb19634e945598e22fd8a68dc00b7%2Fap25303182109018.jpg\" data-format=\"jpeg\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"\/><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1762100807_470_How-US-China-tensions-leave-countries-like-South-Korea-stuck-in.jpg?w=640&#038;ssl=1\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2614x2614+654+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fab%2Fcc%2Fb19634e945598e22fd8a68dc00b7%2Fap25303182109018.jpg\" data-format=\"jpeg\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" alt=\"President Donald Trump, left, and Chinese President Xi Jinping, right, shake hands after their U.S.-China summit meeting at Gimhae International Airport Jinping in Busan, South Korea, Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025. \" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/picture>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKETBLOCK\" -->\n      <\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKET IMG\" -->\n   <\/div>\n<p><!-- END ID=\"RESNX-S1-5594836-100\" CLASS=\"BUCKETWRAP INTERNALLINK INSETTWOCOLUMN INSET2COL \" --><\/p>\n<p>Despite the brevity of the much-anticipated rendezvous \u2014 and Trump&#8217;s absence in the main APEC Economic Leaders&#8217; Summit \u2014 the countries&#8217; trade dispute loomed large over the event.<\/p>\n<p>On Saturday, representatives from APEC&#8217;s 21 member countries acknowledged challenges facing the global trade system and supply chains in a joint declaration. They called for &#8220;a trade and investment environment that promotes resilience and benefits for all.&#8221;<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"edTag\">Tensions on show at APEC<\/h3>\n<p>As the chair of this year&#8217;s APEC, President Lee Jae Myung of South Korea advocated for the multilateral forum&#8217;s role in spite of &#8220;different values and objectives&#8221; among its members. &#8220;The goal is to identify common challenges that can be discussed together and to maximize cooperation within possible scope,&#8221; Lee said.<\/p>\n<aside id=\"ad-backstage-wrap\" class=\"ad-wrap backstage\" aria-label=\"advertisement\">\n<\/aside>\n<p>But some experts question how viable and concrete such cooperation can be when the U.S. is shifting from a supporter of trade liberalism to an increasingly protectionist and transactional position.<\/p>\n<p>It was &#8220;because of benign U.S. leadership&#8221; and &#8220;a clear lack of security concerns&#8221; in the post-Cold War era that APEC could set the agenda for the global trade regime, says Jeffrey Robertson, an associate professor of Diplomatic Studies at Yonsei University in Seoul.<\/p>\n<p>Transforming the institution to reflect the new global order is difficult for comparatively small players in the region, he adds, &#8220;because they&#8217;re caught between the United States and China.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div id=\"resg-s1-96252\" class=\"bucketwrap image large\">\n<div class=\"imagewrap has-source-dimensions\" data-crop-type=\"\" style=\"&#10;        --source-width: 5000;&#10;        --source-height: 3333;&#10;    \">\n        <picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5000x3333+0+0\/resize\/400\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe8%2Fdc%2F47ba4bbe492c86f9b4a9aafe7da0%2Fap25303080817588.jpg 400w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5000x3333+0+0\/resize\/600\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe8%2Fdc%2F47ba4bbe492c86f9b4a9aafe7da0%2Fap25303080817588.jpg 600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5000x3333+0+0\/resize\/800\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe8%2Fdc%2F47ba4bbe492c86f9b4a9aafe7da0%2Fap25303080817588.jpg 800w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5000x3333+0+0\/resize\/900\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe8%2Fdc%2F47ba4bbe492c86f9b4a9aafe7da0%2Fap25303080817588.jpg 900w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5000x3333+0+0\/resize\/1200\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe8%2Fdc%2F47ba4bbe492c86f9b4a9aafe7da0%2Fap25303080817588.jpg 1200w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5000x3333+0+0\/resize\/1600\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe8%2Fdc%2F47ba4bbe492c86f9b4a9aafe7da0%2Fap25303080817588.jpg 1600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5000x3333+0+0\/resize\/1800\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe8%2Fdc%2F47ba4bbe492c86f9b4a9aafe7da0%2Fap25303080817588.jpg 1800w\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5000x3333+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe8%2Fdc%2F47ba4bbe492c86f9b4a9aafe7da0%2Fap25303080817588.jpg\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1025px) 650px, calc(100vw - 30px)\" class=\"img\" type=\"image\/webp\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5000x3333+0+0\/resize\/400\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe8%2Fdc%2F47ba4bbe492c86f9b4a9aafe7da0%2Fap25303080817588.jpg 400w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5000x3333+0+0\/resize\/600\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe8%2Fdc%2F47ba4bbe492c86f9b4a9aafe7da0%2Fap25303080817588.jpg 600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5000x3333+0+0\/resize\/800\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe8%2Fdc%2F47ba4bbe492c86f9b4a9aafe7da0%2Fap25303080817588.jpg 800w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5000x3333+0+0\/resize\/900\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe8%2Fdc%2F47ba4bbe492c86f9b4a9aafe7da0%2Fap25303080817588.jpg 900w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5000x3333+0+0\/resize\/1200\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe8%2Fdc%2F47ba4bbe492c86f9b4a9aafe7da0%2Fap25303080817588.jpg 1200w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5000x3333+0+0\/resize\/1600\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe8%2Fdc%2F47ba4bbe492c86f9b4a9aafe7da0%2Fap25303080817588.jpg 1600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5000x3333+0+0\/resize\/1800\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe8%2Fdc%2F47ba4bbe492c86f9b4a9aafe7da0%2Fap25303080817588.jpg 1800w\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5000x3333+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe8%2Fdc%2F47ba4bbe492c86f9b4a9aafe7da0%2Fap25303080817588.jpg\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1025px) 650px, calc(100vw - 30px)\" class=\"img\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"\/><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1762100807_821_How-US-China-tensions-leave-countries-like-South-Korea-stuck-in.jpg?w=640&#038;ssl=1\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5000x3333+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe8%2Fdc%2F47ba4bbe492c86f9b4a9aafe7da0%2Fap25303080817588.jpg\" class=\"img\" alt=\"President Donald Trump, left, and Chinese President Xi Jinping shake hands before their meeting at Gimhae International Airport in Busan, South Korea, Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025.\" loading=\"lazy\"\/>\n        <\/picture>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"credit-caption\">\n<div class=\"caption-wrap\">\n<div class=\"caption\" aria-label=\"Image caption\">\n<p>\n                President Donald Trump, left, and Chinese President Xi Jinping shake hands before their meeting at Gimhae International Airport in Busan, South Korea, Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025.<br \/>\n                <b class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><\/p>\n<p>                    Mark Schiefelbein\/AP\/AP<\/p>\n<p>                <\/b><br \/>\n                <b class=\"hide-caption\"><b>hide caption<\/b><\/b>\n            <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>            <b class=\"toggle-caption\"><b>toggle caption<\/b><\/b>\n    <\/div>\n<p>    <span class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><\/p>\n<p>        Mark Schiefelbein\/AP\/AP<\/p>\n<p>    <\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<h3 class=\"edTag\"><strong>Korea: between China and the U.S.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Like many APEC members, South Korea&#8217;s balancing act between the U.S. and China has been put to test.<\/p>\n<p>Its relationship with China suffered in 2016 when South Korea decided to host a U.S. <u>missile defense system<\/u> known as THAAD. China retaliated with measures aimed at the country&#8217;s tourism, retail and entertainment industries \u2014 many of which are still in effect.<\/p>\n<div id=\"resnx-s1-5594836-101\" class=\"bucketwrap internallink insettwocolumn inset2col \">\n<div class=\"bucket img\">\n                  <picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2334x2334+583+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F3b%2F53%2F6d60a07749adaf8f166eae967d28%2Fgettyimages-2243455207.jpg\" data-original=\"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1762100808_592_How-US-China-tensions-leave-countries-like-South-Korea-stuck-in.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2334x2334+583+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F3b%2F53%2F6d60a07749adaf8f166eae967d28%2Fgettyimages-2243455207.jpg\" data-format=\"webp\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" type=\"image\/webp\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2334x2334+583+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F3b%2F53%2F6d60a07749adaf8f166eae967d28%2Fgettyimages-2243455207.jpg\" data-original=\"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1762100808_592_How-US-China-tensions-leave-countries-like-South-Korea-stuck-in.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2334x2334+583+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F3b%2F53%2F6d60a07749adaf8f166eae967d28%2Fgettyimages-2243455207.jpg\" data-format=\"jpeg\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"\/><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1762100808_592_How-US-China-tensions-leave-countries-like-South-Korea-stuck-in.jpg?w=640&#038;ssl=1\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2334x2334+583+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F3b%2F53%2F6d60a07749adaf8f166eae967d28%2Fgettyimages-2243455207.jpg\" data-format=\"jpeg\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" alt=\"President Trump and South Korea's President Lee Jae Myung at a dinner in Gyeongju, South Korea, on Oct. 29, 2025. (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS \/ AFP) (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS\/AFP via Getty Images)\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/picture>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKETBLOCK\" -->\n      <\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKET IMG\" -->\n   <\/div>\n<p><!-- END ID=\"RESNX-S1-5594836-101\" CLASS=\"BUCKETWRAP INTERNALLINK INSETTWOCOLUMN INSET2COL \" --><\/p>\n<p>Though China remains the biggest importer of South Korean goods, it may soon be outpaced by the U.S. According to 2024 <u>data<\/u> from the Korea International Trade Association, China&#8217;s purchases were ahead of the U.S. by less than one percentage point, down from nearly 15 points a decade ago.<\/p>\n<p>South Koreans increasingly see the U.S. as the most important country for their country&#8217;s economy, in addition to security, <u>surveys<\/u> show. During an August visit to Washington, President Lee <u>declared<\/u> that South Korea&#8217;s &#8220;U.S. for security, China for economy&#8221; approach is over.<\/p>\n<aside id=\"ad-secondary-wrap\" class=\"ad-wrap secondary\" aria-label=\"advertisement\">\n<\/aside>\n<p>The tariff deal finalized this week between Washington and Seoul is likely to further connect the allies&#8217; economies. In return for a lowered tariff on cars and auto parts, South Korea agreed to invest 350 billion dollars in the U.S. over a period of at least 10 years.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"edTag\"><strong>China and Korea&#8217;s growing rivalry<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>In contrast, China and South Korea have grown increasingly at odds as China&#8217;s technological advancement accelerated. Once a manufacturing subcontractor of South Korean companies, China has now become their global rival in key industries like EV and electronics.<\/p>\n<p>Against this backdrop, Koreans&#8217; sentiment toward China is souring, particularly among younger generations. There have been anti-China <u>rallies<\/u> in downtown Seoul in recent months, where protesters chanted racist slurs and made unsubstantiated claims of Chinese inference in South Korean politics. Some <u>marched<\/u> in Gyeongju this week, chanting &#8220;CCP [Chinese Communist Party] out.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Those tensions were on show at APEC, where South Korea&#8217;s President Lee met with Chinese President Xi. Before that meeting, the Chinese ambassador to Korea, Dai Bing, <u>warned<\/u> of &#8220;regression&#8221; in the bilateral relations.<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun <u>called on<\/u> the U.S. and South Korea to &#8220;earnestly fulfill their nuclear non-proliferation obligations, and do what is conducive to regional peace and stability.&#8221; That statement came in response to President Trump&#8217;s recent approval of Seoul&#8217;s push for a nuclear-powered submarine. Separately, earlier in October, China imposed sanctions on five U.S. subsidiaries of Hanwha Ocean, a South Korean shipbuilder that owns the main shipyards in Philadelphia.<\/p>\n<p>At their bilateral summit, Lee and Xi were both positive about their countries&#8217; relations, reaffirming their commitment to continued, stable economic cooperation. Lee&#8217;s national security advisor Wi Sung-lac called the meeting a &#8220;comprehensive restoration&#8221; of relations.<\/p>\n<p>However, there were tensions below the surface. Wi Sung-lac revealed no immediate progress on the lingering sanctions over THAAD, and sidestepped giving a direct answer on the submarine issue. When asked about the recent sanctions on Hanwha Ocean, he said he expected it to be resolved when the U.S.-China trade dispute is resolved.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script data-jetpack-boost=\"ignore\" async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1669381584671856\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<!-- Africa tv video display -->\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1669381584671856\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"3579572842\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"auto\"\r\n     data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\r\n<script data-jetpack-boost=\"ignore\">\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><br \/>\n#U.S.China #tensions #leave #countries #South #Korea #stuck #middle #NPR<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>President Donald Trump shakes hands with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung as he receives a gift of a gold&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":40432,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[32],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-40431","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mzansi"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40431","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=40431"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40431\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":40433,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40431\/revisions\/40433"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/40432"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=40431"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=40431"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=40431"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}