Seoul 8 August : South Korea is looking into its potential participation in the US-led semiconductor alliance from a standpoint of national security and has no plans to create an exclusive grouping against China the minister of industry announced on Monday. Industry Minister Lee Chang-yang’s comments came amid worries that South Korea’s possible membership of the “Chip 4” could create friction with China the country that is its most important trading partner, in the event that it evolves into an exclusive alliance that is aimed at Beijing.
The Chip 4 is an envisioned alliance of semiconductor powerhouses that is envisioned to include the U.S., South Korea, Japan and Taiwan, widely regarded as a grouping against China and with the aim of reducing China’s influence in global supply chains.
“We will make a decision (whether to be a part of the Chip 4) purely from strategic and economic perspectives to serve the nation’s interest.
We don’t have a strategy to exclude a particular country or to create an exclusive grouping” Lee told reporters.
The minister also said that the nation will continue to look for cooperation in the chip manufacturing industry with China at “various levels,” reports Yonhap news agency.
South Korea has decided to participate in an initial gathering of the Chip 4 that is expected to be held at the close of August, or in the early part of September.
At the next gathering, Seoul is planning to share its views on the “desirable” direction in which the Chip 4 should go forward, Lee said.
Concerning exports of power plants, the minister stated that there was “some improvements” without providing specifics.
“The government is planning to set up an task force to discuss the sales strategies of power plants, and to begin with Poland and the Czech Republic and Poland (for nuclear energy sales) in the global power plant market,” Lee said.
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