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Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
South Korea faces high-stakes election; fears over China, North Korea and US ties shape voter concerns
Early South Korean voters reportedly turned out in record numbers this week as the nation awaits the June 3 presidential election in what has been described as a pivotal race amid ongoing threats posed by China and recent rocky relations with the U.S. due to President Donald Trump's tariffs. The leader of the progressive Democratic Party of South Korea, Lee Jae-myung, is reported to be leading the race as the frontrunner, but he has raised some eyebrows after he vowed to take a "pragmatic" approach to geopolitics, chiefly by easing previously hawkish positions on China and lessening dependence on the U.S. "The alliance with the U.S. is the foundation of South Korea's diplomacy," Lee said during a debate earlier this month, Bloomberg reported. Kim Jong Un Left Fuming After North Korea's New Destroyer Damaged In Failed Launch Lee said the U.S.-South Korea-Japan partnership should be expanded, but he also said Seoul can't be "unilaterally bound" to relations with Washington, particularly when it comes to U.S. geopolitical rivalries. "We should not neglect ties with China or Russia. We need to manage them appropriately, and there's no need to have an unnecessarily hostile approach like now," Lee also said during the debate, the South China Morning Post reported. Read On The Fox News App Former California GOP Congresswoman Michelle Steel, who was born in South Korea, explained that China's "bullying" behavior in the region leaves much for the global community to be concerned about. "China [poses] the biggest threat, and they already told the whole world that they're going to take over Taiwan," she told Fox News Digital. "When they take over, where are they going to go [to] next? South Korea or Japan? The Philippines? "China has been always fighting to expand." Foreign policy has taken center stage in the presidential race after conservative former President Yoon Suk Yeol threw the nation into political chaos after his December 2024 impeachment. Yoon was ardently aligned with the U.S. when it came to opposing Chinese aggression in the Yellow Sea and East China Sea, where Beijing has been accused of expanding, militarizing and blocking freedom of navigation in contested territorial zones. Lee's chief challenger, Kim Moon-soo of the conservative People Power Party (PPP), a former labor minister under Yoon, pushed back on the democratic challenger's position when it comes to China and the U.S. But Lee has rejected the idea he is not prioritizing the U.S. alliance and reportedly said during this month's debate, "There's no need to worry. The South Korea-U.S. alliance is important and should continue to grow and strengthen." North Korea Launches Short-range Ballistic Missiles Into Sea, South Korea Says Though he did caution that certain steps taken by the Trump administration, including the 25% tariffs announced earlier this year and the potential withdrawal of troops has "eroded" the relationship. "If the U.S. continues this way — eroding its soft power and the trust of other nations — it won't be sustainable. At some point, brakes will be applied," Lee said. "Until then, endurance is key." Steel argued the "South Korean people understand the importance of a strong relationship with the United States." "Whatever the outcome of the election, South Korean leaders should embrace President Trump and look to make an incredible trade deal that will benefit everyone," she added. But Lee has not convinced all who are weary of his view on U.S. relations, including David Eunkoo Kim, founder and president of the Truth Forum, a conservative youth organization founded at Seoul National University. "This election is widely seen as a pivotal moment for South Korea because the stakes — both domestically and geopolitically — are extraordinarily high," Kim said. "Throughout his political career, (Lee) has consistently aligned himself with both pro-North Korean and pro-Chinese agendas. He has been implicated in sending funds to North Korea in violation of U.N. sanctions, and his deference to China has been nothing short of submissive," Kim said. Kim was referring to Lee's indictment for an illegal cash transfer scheme to North Korea, though Lee denies the accusations and has argued they are politically motivated. During this month's debate, Lee's opponents claimed Lee is also a "North Korea risk" as concerns about Pyongyang's military movements continue to escalate, Radio Free Asia reported. Lee maintains he wants to ease tensions with North Korea by engaging in peaceful diplomacy. But David Eunkoo Kim told Fox News Digital Lee's legal troubles are another geopolitical vulnerability. "With multiple criminal investigations looming, he has every incentive to cling to power at all costs — even if that means aligning South Korea more closely with Beijing," he said. "And this concern is not theoretical. "China is already aggressively asserting influence in the region."Original article source: South Korea faces high-stakes election; fears over China, North Korea and US ties shape voter concerns
Bloomberg
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Bloomberg
Ex-Credit Suisse CEO Thiam Fights Ivory Coast Vote Ban in Court
Ivory Coast's main opposition party appealed a court ruling that disqualified former Credit Suisse Chief Executive Officer Tidjane Thiam from running in this year's presidential election. An Abidjan court last week removed Thiam from the voters' roll before elections in October because of his dual French-Ivorian nationality. The decision came days after Thiam, 62, was chosen as the Democratic Party of Ivory Coast's candidate.
Arabian Post
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Arabian Post
Court Bars Thiam from Côte d'Ivoire Presidential Race Amid Nationality Dispute
A court in Abidjan has disqualified Tidjane Thiam, leader of the Democratic Party of Côte d'Ivoire and former CEO of Credit Suisse, from contesting the upcoming presidential election, citing his previous French nationality at the time of his registration. The ruling, delivered on 22 April, determined that Thiam was ineligible to run as he held dual Ivorian-French citizenship when he registered on the electoral roll. According to Article 55 of the Ivorian Constitution, presidential candidates must possess exclusively Ivorian nationality. Thiam had renounced his French citizenship in February, a move officially recorded in France's official journal, aiming to comply with the country's eligibility laws. Thiam, who was elected president of the PDCI in December 2023 with over 96% of the votes, was widely regarded as the main challenger to incumbent President Alassane Ouattara in the October election. His disqualification has been met with strong criticism from opposition figures and civil society groups, who view the court's decision as politically motivated and detrimental to the democratic process. In a statement, Thiam described the ruling as 'an act of democratic vandalism,' accusing the judiciary of being used as a tool to suppress opposition voices. He emphasized that the PDCI remains united behind him and that there is no alternative candidate being considered. The court's decision is final and not subject to appeal, effectively ending Thiam's bid for the presidency. This development adds to the growing concerns about the fairness and transparency of the electoral process in Côte d'Ivoire, especially given the country's history of political instability and contested elections. Thiam's disqualification follows a pattern of opposition figures being barred from participating in the electoral process. Former President Laurent Gbagbo and ex-minister Charles Blé Goudé have also faced legal obstacles preventing their candidacies. These actions have raised alarms among international observers and human rights organizations, who fear that the political landscape is being manipulated to favor the ruling party.
Bloomberg
17-04-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Ex-Credit Suisse CEO Thiam to Run for President in Ivory Coast
Ivory Coast's main opposition party overwhelmingly endorsed former Credit Suisse Chief Executive Officer Tidjane Thiam as its candidate for president in this year's election. Thiam, 62, ran unopposed in the Democratic Party of Ivory Coast's primary election after his only rival, former Trade Minister Jean-Louis Billon, opted out of the race. The PDCI's support comes after more than a dozen other political groups in the West African nation aligned with the party to form the Coalition for Peaceful Change in Ivory Coast, with Thiam as its leader.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Virginia Democrats criticize Earle-Sears over DOGE cuts in new ad
The Democratic Party of Virginia rolled out a digital ad Tuesday tying Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears (R) to federal workers losing jobs in the state as a result of the Trump administration's efforts to scale down the size of the federal workforce. The ad, first reported by The Hill, is the state party's first digital ad of the cycle. The spot features coverage of recently released data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics showing unemployment claims in Northern Virginia growing 7.1 percent in February. The spot goes on to feature audio of the Republican gubernatorial nominee addressing federal cuts in the wake of the Department of Government Efficiency's (DOGE) efforts to reduce the size of the federal workforce. 'Virginia families are dealing with the economic fallout and what does Winsome Earle-Sears have to say?' the ad's narrator says. 'So, if you've ever lost your job and how many here have ever lost a job? 'Oh, you mean it's not unusual? It happens to everybody all the time? Okay,' Sears says in the audio, which was first reported by progressive media company MeidasTouch. 'And the media is making it out to be this huge, huge thing and I don't understand why,' Sears continues. In a part of the audio that was not included in the digital ad, Sears touts the number of available jobs in the state. 'We don't want to see folks to lose their jobs,' Earle-Sears says in the audio. 'We have over 250,000 jobs that we've created since we've been in office.' The ad underscores the effort from Democrats to make DOGE's impact on Virginia's federal workforce a key issue in November's gubernatorial race. Census data shows there are roughly 320,000 full-time federal employees living in Virginia along with swaths of government contractors. The state is also home to a significant military population. Democratic gubernatorial nominee Abigail Spanberger has criticized Sears over the issue, noting in a statement earlier this month the state's federal employees 'are real people with real bills to pay.' 'Now is not the time for the lieutenant governor to put blind ideology and allegiance to a political party ahead of the livelihoods of our neighbors and the strength of Virginia's economy,' Spanberger said. Earle-Sears and Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) have touted their administration's 'Virginia Has Jobs' initiative, which was launched in February. In addition to promoting 250,000 open jobs in the state, Youngkin also announced a 'support resource bundle' would be available to federal workers looking for work. Youngkin said in a press conference announcing the initiative that he has 'extraordinary empathy' for federal workers at risk of losing their jobs but noted the Trump administration is looking to weed out waste, fraud and abuse from the federal government. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
