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The U.S. is trying to persuade Moon Jae-in to agree to a strong statement of concern about China when South Korean President Joe Biden becomes the second world leader to meet in Washington on Friday.
The White House wants to support a strong language in a joint appearance at the Moon summit as part of its strategy to work with allies To deal with China, according to five people who know the situation.
But four people familiar with the talks between the White House and the Blue House, Seoul’s presidential palace, have said the Moon does not want to insert a language that would trigger a drastic response from Beijing.
South Korea will agree to include a working language “Quad”, A group from the US, Japan, India and Australia that wants to have a Chinese influence. But Seoul is only looking for a passing reference to prevent China from getting angry, as the US and other members of the Quad have been prosecuted for their cooperation.
If South Korea has it security alliance With the US, it has long held pressure to deal with China in a clearer way. In the Trump administration, he backed down against demands to stop U.S. companies in South Korea Working with Huawei, Champion of Chinese telecommunications.
Seoul continues to be wary of provoking a backlash after South Korean companies took the lead Chinese boycotts In 2017, in response to the deployment of a Thaad missile defense system in the US.
“South Koreans have bad dreams with more Thaad-type punishments,” said Victor Cha, an expert on South Korea at Georgetown University and a former White House official. “Seoul doesn’t want to take tough options on China, but not making decisions (coverage) is not a long-term strategy. It weakens the alliance and angers China.”
Biden has budgeted to strengthen alliances to create greater leverage for China. He convinced the Japanese prime minister at a summit with Yoshihide Suga last month Statement in favor of Taiwan In the face of Chinese attacks.
Suga agreed with the language – the first statement in five decades – despite concerns about economic revenge against Tokyo in China.
The White House does not expect the Moon to go to the Fire. One person said the US is “pushing hard” for a harder language in China. A second person said Biden hoped the Moon would be ready since the administration granted him the privilege of a second summit in Washington.
Seoul has requested Covid-19 vaccines from the U.S. to address supply cuts. The US has proposed a “vaccine exchange” that would lead to the supply of vaccines in the short term and return later.
The White House has refused to hold talks with South Korea. The Blue House has denied any pressure from the United States on China.
Moon hopes to win Biden certificates with the intention of confronting the U.S. president The nuclear threat to North Korea Trump and North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un had three sterile meetings afterwards.
Moon administration urges Biden to ease international sanctions on Pyongyang or impose more flexibility draw Kim back to the table for nuclear dialogue.
The Biden administration has recently completed a review of North Korean policy, and the president’s team has said it is open to resuming diplomatic relations, but sanctions will remain in place until Kim moves forward on the path to denuclearization.
Seoul also wants Biden to appoint a North Korean envoy, but a person familiar with the situation said the White House was divided among the candidates, hardly suggesting an announcement that would coincide with the summit.
Executives South Korean companies Moon will be accompanying him to Washington, where he is expected to make announcements about investments in semiconductors, batteries and electric vehicles in the US.
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