The Importance of the US ‘Supply Chain Establishment’ and the G-7 Meeting With Korea, Japan and Taiwan

Published in Munhwa
(South Korea) on 9 June 2021
by Editorial (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Anukrati Mehta. Edited by Elizabeth Cosgriff.
The Biden administration's plan for the global economy, technology and an alliance of values has been announced in detail. The White House's report on the establishment of supply chains in four major areas, including semiconductors, batteries, essential minerals such as rare earths and pharmaceuticals, makes it clear that the U.S. will create a new global supply system through active cooperation with Korea, Japan and Taiwan.

As the title "Building Resilient Supply Chains, Revitalizing American Manufacturing, and Fostering Broad-Based Growth" reveals, the plan is to break away from dependence on China and lead the growth of the U.S. and this alliance. Given that the majority and the opposition parties in the U.S. have a firm consensus on preventing totalitarian China from leading the world, it is a blueprint for a new order that will continue for decades to come.

In particular, the U.S. government's clear intention can be seen in the establishment of a trade strike force led by the U.S. trade representative and the operation of a pan-government task force to respond to short-term supply chain disruptions caused by China's backlash. President Joe Biden said he would also host an international conference by inviting allies and private companies.

In the 250-page report, Korea was listed 74 times, Japan and Taiwan 80 times each, and even the names of companies such as Samsung Group, LG Electronics, Inc. and SK Group appear. Of course, China, which is the target of these checks, has been mentioned 458 times. In addition, the strategy for fostering the large-capacity battery industry has been clearly established. It was also announced that by February of next year, a plan to set up supply chains in six major areas, such as defense, energy and agriculture, would be developed.

The U.S. initiative will be discussed at the Group of Seven major industrial nations summit to be held in Cornwall, U.K. from June 11 to June 13. Each country has different positions on detailed issues, but in the general discussion, the G-7 countries have already reached a consensus through ministerial meetings, etc. Biden declared in a Washington Post article on the June 6, "The world’s major democracies will be offering a high-standard alternative to China." This is why this conference, which invited Korea, India and Australia too, is also recognized as the starting point for the D-10 Strategy Forum countries.*

The plan and the role of President Moon Jae-in, who will be attending this conference, is very important. There is no need to stay away from China, but we need to break free from the delusion of the Chinese dream and take the lead in solidarity for liberal democracy. Otherwise, the national interest and future of the Republic of Korea will be seriously undermined.

*Editor’s note: D-10 refers to a 2008 initiative by the State Department for policy planning, picked up by the Atlantic Council, which launched an initiative in 2014 to maintain a "rules-based democratic order" under the leadership of 10 leading democracies.


미국 조 바이든 행정부의 글로벌 경제·기술·가치 동맹 구상이 구체적으로 발표됐다. 백악관이 8일 공개한 반도체, 배터리, 희토류 등 필수광물, 제약 등 4대 분야 공급망 구축 보고서는 미국이 한국과 일본, 대만 등과의 적극적 협력을 통해 새로운 글로벌 공급 체계를 만들 것임을 분명히 하고 있다. ‘공급망 회복력 구축, 미국 제조업 활성화, 광범위한 성장 촉진’이란 제목에서 드러나듯 중국 의존에서 탈피해 미국과 동맹의 성장을 이끌겠다는 구상이다. 전체주의 체제의 중국이 세계를 주도하지 못하도록 한다는 데 미국 여·야 및 조·야의 공감대가 확고하다는 점에서 앞으로 수십 년 계속될 신질서의 청사진인 셈이다.

특히, 무역대표부(USTR)가 주도하는 무역기동타격대(Trade Strike Force)를 신설하고, 중국 반발 등에 따른 단기적 공급망 차질에 대응하기 위한 범정부적 태스크포스까지 가동하기로 한 데서 미국의 강력한 의지를 읽을 수 있다. 바이든 대통령이 동맹국 및 민간기업을 초청해 국제회의도 주최할 것이라고 했다. 250페이지 보고서에 한국이 74차례, 일본과 대만이 각각 80여 차례 적시됐고, 삼성·LG·SK 등 기업 이름까지 등장한다. 물론 견제 대상인 중국은 458번 언급됐다. 아울러 대용량 배터리 산업 육성 전략도 분명히 했다. 내년 2월엔 국방·에너지·농업 등 6대 분야 공급망 구축안을 내놓겠다고 예고했다.

미국의 이러한 구상은 11∼13일 영국 콘월에서 열리는 주요 7개국(G7) 정상회의에서 논의될 예정이다. 세부 사안에서는 국가별 입장이 다르지만, 총론에서는 G7 국가들이 각료회의 등을 통해 이미 공감대를 이뤘다. 바이든 대통령은 지난 6일 워싱턴포스트 기고문을 통해 “세계 주요 민주국가들이 중국 대체제를 제공하게 될 것”이라고 선언했다. 한국·인도·호주도 초청 받은 이번 회의가 D-10(민주주의 10개국) 출발점으로도 인식되는 이유다.

이번 회의에 참석할 문재인 대통령의 구상과 역할이 매우 중요하다. 중국을 굳이 멀리할 필요는 없지만, 중국몽 미망에서 벗어나 자유민주 연대에 앞장서야 한다. 그러지 않으면 대한민국 국익과 미래를 심각하게 훼손할 것이다.
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