"China's Global Supply Chain Separation Difficult... US-China Full-Scale War Should Not Be Held Hostage"

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"We must not become hostages to the extensive and comprehensive relationship between the United States and China. We need to establish a 'new multilateralism of coexistence' and explore the possibilities of an Indo-Pacific Charter."

Jeong Deok-gu, Chairman of the Near Foundation, made this suggestion at the 'Near Foundation Global Survey Report Press Conference' held on the 5th at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Seoul. Although US-China tensions are intensifying, there remains potential for cooperation in areas such as climate change, natural disasters, and public health, so all possibilities should be kept open, and provisional compromises and conciliatory measures are necessary.

Based on the results of a survey conducted over the past year with more than 40 experts on international affairs, the Near Foundation emphasized the need for a "new multilateralism of coexistence." The Near Foundation is a private independent think tank researching international affairs, established by Chairman Jeong in 2007. Jeong, a career economic bureaucrat, served as the chief negotiator for IMF talks during the financial crisis, and held positions such as Vice Minister of Finance and Economy and Minister of Industry and Resources under the Kim Dae-jung administration. In 2004, at the invitation of President Roh Moo-hyun, he entered the National Assembly as a proportional representative for the Uri Party but resigned before completing his term in the 17th National Assembly and then founded the Near Foundation.

The private think tank NEAR Foundation held a press conference on the 5th at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry to announce a survey report based on a survey of 42 diplomatic and security policy experts from 28 countries worldwide. Chairman Jeong Deok-gu is speaking. On the left is Ko Myung-hyun, Senior Research Fellow at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies, and on the right is Yoon Byung-se, Chairman of the NEAR Global Survey Report. Photo by Heo Young-han younghan@

Chairman Jeong pointed out regarding the Near Foundation survey results that "83% of respondents expressed negative views on completely separating China from the global supply chain." He also added the forecast that the current competitive system between the US and China, characterized by high economic interdependence and strong market reliance on China, will persist for more than five years. He emphasized, "To avoid a vicious cycle of retaliatory protectionist measures, actions among countries with similar positions must be harmonized in a mutually beneficial manner."

In a situation where US-China conflicts remain unresolved, middle powers must prevent the division and collapse of the international order. Chairman Jeong stated, "Middle powers must bear more responsibility for regional and global challenges," and stressed, "Competition and confrontation need to be complemented by global-level joint cooperation on issues such as climate change, natural disasters, sustainability, energy transition, and food security."

He mentioned the 'Indo-Pacific Charter' as a central blueprint to remind liberal-supporting countries and major powers of the necessity for competition and coexistence. There is precedent in the Allied Powers drafting the 'Atlantic Charter' during World War II, laying the foundation for the liberal international order. Chairman Jeong viewed the Indo-Pacific region as not only a geopolitical arena of the 21st century but also a source of public goods, playing a role in providing regional and global public goods.

In this process, he also advised revitalizing multilateral organizations. The 80th anniversary of the United Nations' founding in 2025 should be actively utilized as momentum for reforms that can promote international peace, development, and human rights more efficiently and fairly, as stipulated in the UN Charter. Additionally, respondents in the Near Foundation survey identified the greatest challenges to the world order as ▲China's aggressive rise ▲Russia's invasion of Ukraine ▲the relative decline of US leadership.

Meanwhile, the event held jointly with the Korea Foundation for International Exchange will continue for two days from the 5th to the 6th. Attendees include Richard Haas, Honorary Chairman of the US Council on Foreign Relations, who will deliver a special speech, Ivo Daalder, President of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, and others. Foreign Minister Park Jin will give a congratulatory address, and former Foreign Minister Yoon Byung-se and former National Security Office Chief Kim Sung-han will also participate as commentators.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.