China has issued a warning regarding South Korea's participation in the U.S.-led semiconductor supply alliance known as 'Chip4' (United States, South Korea, Taiwan, Japan), emphasizing that 'China is South Korea's largest trading partner.'
On the 26th, Zhao Lijian, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, responded to a question about the South Korean government's cautious stance on Chip4, stating that it is "difficult to call it a membership proposal." He said, "China opposes artificially disrupting international trade rules and dividing the global market."
He indirectly pressured South Korea by presenting specific figures on the increase in trade volume between China and South Korea. Zhao emphasized, "Last year, China-South Korea trade increased by 26.9% compared to the previous year, reaching 362.3 billion dollars, which surpasses the combined trade volume of South Korea with the U.S., Japan, and Europe."
He further explained, "Looking only at chip trade, 60% of the chips South Korea exported last year entered the Chinese market."
This was interpreted as emphasizing the fact that China is South Korea's largest trading partner and expressing the position that South Korea should not participate in the Chip4 alliance.
Spokesperson Zhao added, "We hope South Korea will act from a long-term interest perspective and principles of a fair and open market, taking an objective and fair stance that benefits the development of China-South Korea relations and contributes to the stability of the global industrial and supply chains."
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