"President Lee Must Choose Between China and the U.S."... Claims Pro-Trump Figure

'Pro-Trump' Former U.S. Ambassador to Denmark Sands
"Two-Track U.S.-China Strategy Is a Dangerous Game with the People"
"Jeong Cheongrae, a Leftist Banned from Entry Even by the Obama Administration"

Ahead of the first South Korea-U.S. summit between President Lee Jaemyung and U.S. President Donald Trump, a pro-Trump figure commented that "President Lee is not sure whether he will side with us or with China." According to the Chosun Ilbo, Carla Sands, Vice Chairman of the Energy and Environment Center at the America First Policy Institute (AFPI) and former U.S. Ambassador to Denmark during the first Trump administration, contributed an article with Bart Marcois, former Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Energy, to the conservative outlet 'Daily Caller' on August 18 outlining these views. AFPI is known as one of the leading conservative think tanks, having produced several senior officials for the second Trump administration.

Vice Chairman of the Energy and Environment Center at the American First Policy Institute (AFPI). Official AFPI website

Vice Chairman Sands stated, "President Lee seems to be focusing more on economic support rather than preparing for potential attacks from North Korea, and he is uncertain about whether to side with China or the United States." She continued, "He is pursuing a two-track strategy between the U.S. and China, but this is the most dangerous game to play with the Korean people. He may make the very dangerous miscalculation of thinking he can play Trump."

She went on to say, "President Lee’s two-track strategy between the U.S. and China is not particularly successful," and added, "He must decide whether to build instruments of oppression (in cooperation with China and others) to maintain power, or to work to improve the lives of the Korean people." She further emphasized, "If President Lee continues policies leaning toward China and North Korea, Koreans will watch the U.S. prosper while their own economy collapses under the weight of leftist policies. He should support policies that keep Washington (the U.S.) and Seoul (South Korea) closely aligned."

She stated, "The agenda for the summit on the 25th is clear," and added, "It will involve adjusting the details of the large-scale trade agreement signed last month, determining the cost-sharing for U.S.-South Korea military forces, and seeking the best ways to counter Chinese influence." She continued, "President Trump will present a future vision at the summit where private companies from both countries can demonstrate their strengths. President Lee and the National Assembly should support policies that keep the U.S. and South Korea close. President Trump is offering President Lee a golden opportunity, and now President Lee must make a choice."

Meanwhile, the article also mentioned Jeong Cheongrae, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea. It stated, "(Representative Jeong) was convicted and sentenced to four years in prison for breaking into the U.S. ambassador’s residence and detonating a bomb in 1989." It further explained, "Before that, he was arrested for distributing leaflets supporting North Korea's Juche ideology." The article added, "Representative Jeong is considered so far left that even the Obama administration banned his entry into the United States. He was also politically active with President Lee in the early 2000s." In 2013, while serving as a member of the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, Representative Jeong was unable to attend a parliamentary inspection of overseas missions in the U.S. because he was denied a visa.