When it was reported that the US had asked the Korean government not to make up for the shortfall in the case of a ban on Micron’s sales to China, leading Chinese state media slammed it as “an act of ‘bullying’ full of US arrogance.”
China’s state-run Global Times reported in an editorial on the 24th that “the space for survival of Korean companies has become narrower due to the US semiconductor bullying strategy.”
On the 23rd (local time), the British Financial Times (FT) cited a source, and if China bans the sale of US Micron’s semiconductors to China, Korean semiconductor companies such as Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix will export DRAM to China, which will increase China’s demand. It was reported that the US government requested South Korea not to make up the shortfall.
The FT said, “While President Seok-yeol Yoon was preparing for a state visit to the United States, the White House requested this from the Korean side,” and “the Yoon Seok-yeol government is facing a diplomatic test.”
Referring to the recent poor performance of Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, the Global Times said, “It is no longer a secret that Korea’s semiconductor industry is under great pressure.”
The press also said, “(Korean semiconductor companies’) sluggish performance shows that the market space of the Korean chip manufacturing sector is under pressure from various factors.” This is because both the price and demand for memory chips have plummeted due to the sluggish demand for memory chips.”
“There is a possibility that the US’ attempt to block cooperation in the semiconductor industry chain between South Korea and China may have worsened the situation for Korean semiconductor companies,” he added.
The press pointed out, “If Korean semiconductor companies are completely under the control of the United States and participate in the strategy to suppress China, this will only lead to a weakening of the competitiveness of Korean semiconductor manufacturers.”
In particular, he emphasized, “If Korean semiconductor companies do not win in the technological competition, the market space in which they can survive will further decrease and (Korea) will face the fate of becoming a ‘vassal’ of the United States.”
The press criticized, “What the US has done to Korean companies is a typical practice of technological bullying and protectionism, and this is by no means the way a country treats its allies.”
“In effect, the United States has never taken the interests of its allies seriously, and has forced its allies to serve the interests of the United States at the expense of their interests,” he said.
In addition, the Chinese government strongly objected to the FT’s related reports.
In response to a related question at a regular briefing on the 24th, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ming pointed out, “The actions of the US side are typical scientific and technological hegemony and protectionist behavior that harms the interests of companies in each country, and this selfish behavior does not win public opinion.”
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.