The event begins with a “Breakfast Briefing” (only in-person) at 8:20 am by Evan Medeiros, Penner Family Chair in Asian Studies and Cling Family Senior Fellow in US-China Relations, Georgetown University. He will provide an update and scene-setter on the Xi-Biden meeting in Bali and other recent U.S.-China developments. Full breakfast will be served for in-person participants.

The Korea Center is honored to welcome Edgard D. Kagan, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for East Asia and Oceania at the National Security Council, for the keynote address.

Overview

In August, Congress passed the CHIPS Act to encourage US semiconductor manufacturing. In September, the Biden administration imposed new export control regulations to prevent China from advancing its semiconductor industry with U.S. technology. In October, the 20th Party Congress of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) granted a new, five-year term to President Xi Jinping, who is intent on maximizing his control of the CCP system and expanding Chinese power, while sharpening its focus on Taiwan, possibly setting up a showdown with the United States.

South Korea in the past has tried to navigate a middle path between China and the United States with “balanced diplomacy,” seeking to avoid choosing between its No. 1 trade partner (China) and its No. 1 security partner (the United States). But how durable is that strategy given the growing US-China divide? The increasing WMD threat from North Korea, an ally of China, is only increasing pressure on South Korea to move closer to the US while still being reluctant to alienate Beijing.

This conference will examine South Korea’s role in US-China security competition and economic competition. What are the challenges, priorities, and opportunities for South Korea at a time when the struggle for supremacy between the United States and China is intensifying? This discussion will be all the more timely for taking place shortly after the US midterm elections and the G-20 summit in Indonesia, where Xi Jinping and President Biden met for their first face-to-face discussion since Biden became president.

This event is made possible by the generous support of the Korea Foundation.