Geo-Strategic Trend - 13. page

South Korea faces growing pressure to diversify its supply chains as new data from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy reveals a deep dependence on China for key materials underpinning its high-tech industries. Information obtained by National Assembly member Lee Jae-gwan shows that South Korean strategic sectors remain overwhelmingly reliant on Chinese imports for essential raw materials and components.

The battery industry is among the most vulnerable. China accounts for 97.6 percent of South Korea’s natural graphite imports and 98.8 percent of synthetic graphite—both crucial for secondary battery anodes. Imports of precursors and nickel hydroxide, used in cathode materials, depend on China by 94.1 percent and 96.4 percent, respectively. The robotics sector shows a similar trend, with reliance on Chinese core drive components rising from 77.7 percent in 2021 to 80.3 percent in 2023.

Advanced display technologies also expose structural weaknesses. Over 90 percent of core materials for Micro LED displays come from China, while OLED materials such as dopants and fine metal masks depend on China by 67 percent and more than 95 percent, respectively. Of the 31 rare metals managed by the South Korean government, 20 are imported from China.

Semiconductor production faces comparable risks: niobium and silicon imports rely on China by 78 percent and 63 percent, while lithium—essential for battery cathodes—is 65 percent sourced from China. Other critical materials such as gallium (98 percent), graphite (97 percent), indium (93 percent), and magnesium (84 percent) also come predominantly from China, underscoring the urgency for Seoul to restructure its supply chains and reduce strategic vulnerabilities.

Source: Yonhap News Agency, October 13, 2025
https://cn.yna.co.kr/view/ACK20251013000900881

Indonesia has announced a landmark deal to procure at least 42 Chinese-made J-10C fighter jets from Chengdu Aircraft Corporation—its first-ever purchase of combat aircraft from a non-Western supplier. The move marks a historic shift away from Jakarta’s decades-long reliance on Western and Russian defense partners.

The Indonesian Defense Ministry confirmed the deal on October 15, with Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin stating that deliveries will begin soon, though further details remain undisclosed. The Finance Ministry later approved a budget exceeding $9 billion for the acquisition. The purchase aligns with Indonesia’s broader military modernization strategy, which also includes orders for 42 French Rafale and 48 Turkish Kaan fighters, alongside joint development of the KF-21 with South Korea.

Defense analysts view the deal as a major geopolitical signal. Beny Sukadis of Indonesia’s Defense and Strategy Institute noted that while Indonesia maintains a non-aligned policy, the large-scale arms purchase from Beijing reflects a clear tilt in strategic orientation and underscores China’s expanding influence in Southeast Asia. He also warned that the move could heighten regional sensitivities given China’s claims in the South China Sea.

The acquisition demonstrates growing confidence in Chinese aerospace technology. The J-10C features advanced systems such as digital fly-by-wire controls, composite airframe materials, and an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar—capabilities comparable to leading Western fighters. Indonesia’s procurement follows Pakistan’s induction of the J-10CE and reports that Bangladesh is considering a similar purchase by 2027, highlighting China’s accelerating rise as a key player in the global defense market.

Source: Sputnik News, October 16, 2025
https://sputniknews.cn/20251016/1067933070.html

Singapore’s leading Chinese-language newspaper Lianhe Zaobao reported that, according to sources familiar with the matter, U.S. officials are privately discussing the possibility of a meeting between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during Trump’s upcoming visit to Asia. The discussions remain preliminary, with no formal contact yet established with Pyongyang. Earlier this year, North Korea reportedly rejected Trump’s outreach efforts.

After meeting South Korean President Lee Jae-myung at the White House in August, Trump expressed interest in meeting Kim once again. North Korean state media later reported that Kim Jong Un had also voiced willingness to meet Trump during a recent address to the North Korean Supreme People’s Assembly. In that speech, Kim said, “I personally still have a good impression of President Trump… If the United States abandons its empty obsession with denuclearization and is willing to coexist peacefully with North Korea based on a realistic understanding, we have no reason to refuse dialogue.”

However, South Korea’s Ministry of Unification stated that there has been no communication between the two Koreas regarding a potential U.S.–North Korea summit. Meanwhile, the White House declined to comment on the report.

Source: Lianhe Zaobao, October 18, 2025
https://www.zaobao.com.sg/realtime/world/story20251018-7685070?ref=global-top-news-7

People’s Daily published an article by the dean of Jamaica’s Mico University College School of Education highlighting the significance of Xi Jinping’s Global Governance Initiative (GGI), particularly for small island developing states (SIDS) and other developing nations such as Jamaica. The initiative – emphasizing sovereign equality, adherence to international law, multilateralism, people-centered development, and practical cooperation – was reaffirmed at the recent “SCO+” meeting in Tianjin, where participants agreed that strengthening global governance has become an urgent priority amid growing global instability.

The author argues that China’s proposal directly addresses systemic inequalities faced by small nations in global affairs, from climate financing and debt restructuring to trade negotiations, where their interests are often sidelined. By advocating greater representation and participation of developing countries, China’s GGI aligns with the long-standing aspirations of Caribbean and Pacific island nations to play a more substantive role in international decision-making.

Despite geographical distance, China’s approach – rejecting hegemony, upholding multilateralism, and fostering Global South solidarity – is viewed as both a moral and strategic pathway for small island states seeking sustainable development, equitable participation, and resilience in an increasingly complex world.

Source: People’s Daily, October 5, 2025
https://paper.people.com.cn/rmrb/pc/content/202510/05/content_30108082.html

Kazakhstan has announced plans to build a second nuclear power plant in the Almaty region, naming China as the preferred contractor. Almasadam Satkaliyev, head of Kazakhstan’s Atomic Energy Agency, disclosed the decision during a parliamentary briefing earlier this month, noting that the southern site was chosen to ease regional power shortages and ensure a stable electricity supply.

The country’s first nuclear power plant, already under construction in the Almaty region’s Ulken village, was awarded to Russia’s state-owned Rosatom. That project involves two VVER-1200 reactors, with an estimated investment of $14–15 billion and a construction timeline of about eleven years.

For the second plant, China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) currently holds the leading position among bidders. While no final decision has been made, Satkaliyev said CNNC’s proposal is considered the most favorable. The Chinese firm is offering its Hualong One reactor — an advanced third-generation design with a projected lifespan of 60 years and an efficiency rate exceeding 90 percent.

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has repeatedly identified energy security as a strategic priority, emphasizing the importance of partnerships with major international players to strengthen Kazakhstan’s energy resilience. The International Atomic Energy Agency has also approved the construction of another plant near Kurchatov in the Abai region of eastern Kazakhstan.

As the world’s largest uranium producer — holding roughly 12 percent of global reserves — Kazakhstan has not operated any nuclear power facilities since the closure of the Semipalatinsk test site in the 1990s. However, mounting energy demand and widening gaps between production and consumption have led authorities to view nuclear power as essential to reducing dependence on Russian electricity imports and fossil fuels, which still account for about half of the country’s energy mix.

China’s apparent advantage may disappoint European competitors, who were previously sidelined in similar bids. France’s EDF, the sole European finalist for the first plant, ultimately lost despite diplomatic efforts. Kazakhstan’s atomic agency noted that only Russia and China currently offer end-to-end nuclear services — from financing and construction to personnel training and spent-fuel management — underscoring the difficulties European firms face competing in this strategically significant sector.

Source: Radio France International, October 9, 2025
https://rfi.my/C536