"‘Zhongjian’ Control is Key", "High-Tech Ambitions"... Foreign Media on Biden's Visit to Korea

[Asia Economy New York=Special Correspondent Joselgina] The Korea and Japan tour of U.S. President Joe Biden, which began on the 20th, focuses on strengthening economic and military cooperation with allies in the Asia-Pacific region. Major foreign media outlets highlighted Biden's first visit to Korea as a top story, noting meanings such as "China containment as the core task (Reuters)," "Acceleration of the pivot to Asia (AFP)," and "A diplomatic test for President Yoon Seok-yeol as well (Washington Post)." Some media reported that security staff accompanying President Biden, who had arrived earlier, assaulted Koreans while intoxicated and were repatriated to the U.S.

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

AP News introduced President Biden's first official schedule upon arriving in Korea, visiting the Samsung Electronics semiconductor plant in Pyeongtaek, saying, "He began his Asia tour by touring Korea's semiconductor production facility, which will serve as a model for the Texas plant," and highlighted Biden's actions and key remarks.

The news agency evaluated the visit as "aimed at American voters amid domestic political challenges such as inflation soaring due to semiconductor shortages." It also analyzed that "President Biden did not mention China, which has emerged as a major competitor of the U.S., in his speech that day and emphasized the value of alliances excluding China." The outlet also noted that newly inaugurated President Yoon Seok-yeol this month takes a tough stance on North Korea and seeks to strengthen the Korea-U.S. alliance.

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) also covered Biden's remarks related to the supply chain at the Samsung semiconductor plant as a top online article and analyzed that it was aimed at the upcoming U.S. midterm elections in November and China.

WSJ stated, "President Biden visited Samsung to support the Asian technology alliance amid confrontation with China," calling it the "administration's high-tech ambition." It emphasized the importance of the technology alliance with Korea as part of efforts to revitalize domestic manufacturing and improve supply chains in the competitive landscape with China. The outlet described Korea as essential for recovering from supply chain disruptions, along with Japan and Taiwan, in the U.S. effort to counter China's technological rise and maintain superiority in future core technologies such as semiconductors and batteries.

Reuters diagnosed that "'China containment' is President Biden's core task during this tour." The agency anticipated that "through this tour, President Biden will respond to China's expanding influence in Asia and strengthen economic ties with Korea and Japan." AFP also mentioned, "As China's economic and military influence grows in Asia, the U.S. dominance is shrinking," and stated, "President Biden aims to accelerate the U.S. 'Pivot to Asia,' which has continued for years, during this tour."

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

CNN noted that President Biden sought key allies during uncertain times, mentioning recent North Korean nuclear and missile provocations and China's rise. The outlet pointed out that this is Biden's first Asia tour in a year and a half since taking office and evaluated that although distance was kept due to COVID-19, China and North Korea remain major concerns for the Biden administration.

The risk of North Korean provocations during the tour was also highlighted. CNN analyzed, "The possibility of North Korean provocations during Biden's tour indicates that the Biden administration's efforts to engage North Korea diplomatically have so far yielded little result," emphasizing that President Yoon Seok-yeol is a staunch supporter of the Korea-U.S. alliance and reporting, "This is welcome news for President Biden, who seeks to strengthen alliances in Asia against China's military and economic ambitions."

The Washington Post (WP) assessed that President Biden's visit to Korea could also be an important diplomatic test for President Yoon, who has been in office for only 10 days. WP introduced, "President Biden became President Yoon's first summit partner," and "President Yoon is promoting 'strengthening the Korea-U.S. alliance' as a core policy and, as the 10th largest economy in the world, aims to play a more active role on the global diplomatic stage rather than focusing solely on North Korea diplomacy."

Some foreign media also covered the case of security personnel related to President Joe Biden's protection who were booked and investigated by the police for assaulting Korean citizens. U.S. NBC News reported from Seoul that these individuals were booked and investigated by police on assault charges before President Biden's visit to Seoul. CBS News reported that after being taken into police custody and investigated, their repatriation was decided, and they boarded a flight back to the U.S. around 4 p.m. Korean time on the 20th, one and a half hours before President Biden's arrival. They will be placed on leave after returning. Anthony Guglielmi, spokesperson for the U.S. Secret Service (SS), confirmed that there will be no disruption to the tour schedule due to this incident.