Editorials in South Korea and commentaries in Taiwan fear that Trump will seek foreign policy successes at the expense of allies after the election
Seoul papers warn of a summit with North Korea as a way out, in Taiwan Congress is seen as friendly and the White House as a negotiator, Chinese state media see only a swing of the pendulum.
In East Asia, the press reads the election above all with a view to its own security. Several editorials in South Korea and a guest article in Taiwan draw the same line: slowed down at home, Trump could act where Congress has little say, that is, in foreign policy. The basis is projections according to which the Democrats win the Senate and the House of Representatives. There is no official final result yet.
South Korea: concern about a deal with North Korea. The editorial of the business newspaper Seoul Economic Daily (4 November, 16:01 CET) considers it possible that Trump will play a summit with North Korea as a card for a turnaround. The worst scenario for Seoul would be for North Korea to be de facto recognised as a nuclear power and for sanctions to be lifted. Uncertainty for trade and investment in the US is rising, it says.
The newspaper Seoul Shinmun (editorial, 4 November, 15:06 CET) writes: “A Trump who wants to regain the lead could take unpredictable steps.” Talks on the transfer of wartime operational control and on nuclear-powered submarines could lose momentum. Seoul needs alliance diplomacy that also involves Congress, it says.
The editorial of the Busan Ilbo (4 November, 21:10 CET) stresses that the veto and executive orders remain with the president. Because the Democrats have traditionally been stricter on the transfer of nuclear technology, approval for the submarines will become more difficult. In any new talks between Washington and Pyongyang, Seoul must remain involved.
Taiwan: Congress well-disposed, White House negotiates. In a guest article on the portal UDN (4 November, 17:22 CET), Wu Lin-kai warns against expecting too much from the new Congress. Trump treats arms sales to Taiwan as a bargaining chip, and after the meeting with Xi a sale was suspended. The editorial of the Economic Daily (4 November, 21:10 CET) expects “stronger oversight by Congress” for the second half of Trump's term and advises Taipei to expand contacts with lawmakers of both parties.
Dissenting voice from China: swing of the pendulum, stable relations. The state newspaper Global Times (report with experts, 4 November) interprets the result as a pendulum effect, not as approval of the Democrats. The experts expect louder tones on human rights and technology, but consider stable relations to be in the interest of both sides. The state outlet quotes Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning as saying the election is an internal affair of the US.
These are the views of the respective media and authors. Further press voices are under Reports, what the new Congress can do from January is in the timeline.