Republican Committee Chair Calls for Scrutiny of Seoul’s China Ties
Moolenaar warned the ties could threaten US supply chains and said Seoul’s semiconductor investments in China warrant closer monitoring.
- On Wednesday, Representative John Moolenaar urged Secretary of State Marco Rubio to maintain "heightened vigilance" over South Korea's warming relationship with Beijing, stating the ties pose "significant risks" to the United States.
- Moolenaar cited the "unprecedented" pace of engagement between Seoul and Beijing, including Chinese President Xi Jinping's 2025 visit and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung's trip to China this year, warning of potential structural shift in Seoul's alignment.
- The lawmaker argued South Korean semiconductor investments in China, such as Samsung's Xi'an plant, create supply chain vulnerabilities, and alleged discriminatory enforcement against American firms like Coupang compared to Chinese platforms AliExpress and Temu.
- South Korea's foreign ministry denied allegations of biased enforcement, reaffirming the US-South Korea alliance as a "cornerstone" of its policy, while Moolenaar called for a State Department briefing by October 31.
- Amid friction over South Korea's Iran policy, potential US use of Seoul's strategic investment fund for roughly $54 billion in Alaska LNG projects looms; President Donald Trump and Lee met last week to discuss managing these tensions.
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15 Articles
House chairman warns of security risks from South Korea's shift to China
South Korea's left-leaning administration is developing close ties with communist China, raising national security concerns for its relations with the U.S, the chairman of the House Select Committee on China warned in a letter.
Moolenaar Urges Scrutiny of South Korea’s China Ties, Citing US Security Concerns
Chairman of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party Rep. John Moolenaar (R-Mich.) speaks during a press conference on Capitol Hill in Washington on March 19, 2026. (Madalina Kilroy/The Epoch Times)
John Moolenaar, chairman of the House Select Committee on China, issued a statement on Wednesday (September 30) saying that he wrote to Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday to express his concern about the growing rapprochement between South Korea and China, which could potentially damage U.S.-South Korea relations.
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