No. 02 Friday-Sunday, November 20-22, 2020 OPINION & PERSPECTIVE 9 America wants to heal divisions CARTOON from JoongAng Ilbo Jung Hyo-sik The incoming U.S. presidential ad- ministration of Joe Biden will in- clude China hardliners, but there will also be voices for cooperation, and Korea should encourage the United States to avoid stoking a new Cold War, said Jeffrey D. Sachs, a world-renowned economics profes- sor. In an interview with the Joon- gAng Ilbo on Thursday, Sachs, a Columbia University professor, said fostering cooperation, instead of a Cold War-style competition, with China is crucial to addressing the challenges of the Covid-19 pan- demic, economic recovery, climate change, nuclear disarmament and Conflict peaceful use of digital technologies. In the interview, which focused on the outcome of the 2020 U.S. PARK YONG-SEOK presidential election and expecta- Despite the increasing mudslinging between Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae and Prosecutor General Yoon Seok- tions for the Biden administration, youl, President Moon Jae-in has been silent since her appointment as justice minister in January. These days, Sachs warned against the idea of a the president has turned away from their conflict entirely. new Cold War with China, a con- cept associated with the presidency of Donald Trump. “It is important not to pursue a OTHER VIEWS crusade against China,” he said. “That would be wrongheaded and dangerous for the entire world.” Gadeok Island Airport project should return to starting point Biden has been a strong backer of U.S.-China cooperation in the As the new Gimhae Airport verification committee a minimum of seven trillion to 10 trillion won ($9 past, who supported China joining under the Office of the Prime Minister decided on billion), is an abuse of the majority party’s legislative the World Trade Organization, but JANG JIN-YOUNG Tuesday to nullify the Gimhae Airport expansion power. It is a risky idea to omit mandatory legal he also worked to send a strong Jeffrey D. Sachs, a professor of economics at Columbia University, warned against the idea of a plan, the Democratic Party of Korea announced a procedures for large-scale national projects, such as message against China’s challenge new Cold War with China in an interview with JoongAng Ilbo. plan to rapidly implement a project to build a new advance feasibility study, preliminary feasibility to win the global hegemony airport in Gadeok Island by enacting a special law. study, and feasibility assessment, and pursue as one throughout the campaign. The plan is to propose a special bill containing many wishes. The reason to stipulate such procedures un- Biden made public his view to- tion do you expect the United bersecurity, biodiversity conserva- special cases, exemptions and exceptions by the end der the National Finance Act, etc. is to ensure the ward China in a contribution to the States to go from Trump’s “Amer- tion, regional and global security, of this month and pass it before the end of the year efficient and transparent management of national Foreign Affairs’ March-April vol- ica First” policies? denuclearization and others. In ad- to pursue the Gadeok Island project without going finance by any administration without waste when ume, titled “Why America Must Biden will support multilateral- dition, there should be extensive through complicated steps, such as a preliminary it comes to projects that require a large amount of the Lead Again.” In the piece, Biden ism. He will return the United States Track II diplomacy by universities, feasibility study. Since the party has a majority in the taxpayers’ money. stressed that the United States does to the Paris Climate Agreement, the think tanks and civil-society National Assembly and the opposition People Pow- In order for the ruling party to resume the new need to get tough with China, be- World Health Organization, the groups. er Party is unlikely to oppose the bill in consider- Gadeok Island Airport project, which was ranked cause it will “keep robbing the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Ac- This is a crucial relationship not ation of a by-election for the mayor of Busan in April lowest in 2016, it should explain the justifiable rea- United States and American compa- tion with Iran, and other UN fo- only for the two countries but for the next year, it has chosen a quick and easy way of sons for the decision and convince the public. From nies of their technology and intel- rums. entire world. We need stable, insti- enacting a special law. business case assessment to location selection, ev- lectual property” and “keep using I hope that the United States tutionalized cooperation, not un- While some point to potential problems with the erything should be re-examined from the starting subsidies to give its state-owned aims for more cooperation with predictable and hostile behavior as decision of the verification committee, there is no point. A special law enacted by the power of the enterprises an unfair advantage — China, though opinion in the Dem- with Trump. We must avoid an anti- conclusion that Gadeok Island is a suitable location majority party does not have procedural legitimacy. and a leg up on dominating the ocratic Party is divided on that China coalition. Such an effort for a new airport in the southeastern region even if It would be legislative dictatorship pretending to be technologies and industries of the point. In any event, the United would be very dangerous for all. the government accepts the committee’s suggestions lawful and the destruction of legalism. Who would future.” States will be more stable and re- and scraps the new Gimhae Airport plan. It means be responsible in case of a failed airport with huge Biden said the most effective sponsible, a huge advance over the China’s military strength is grow- the new airport plan should be re-examined from losses after pouring in the taxpayers’ money? The way to confront the challenge is to narrow-minded nationalism of the ing in Northeast Asia, and we the starting point, not a hasty leap to the conclusion ruling party should take due steps based on the rules build a “united front of U.S. allies Trump era. wonder if you expect the Biden that Gadeok Island is the only alternative. and laws to avoid leaving an example of using the and partners.” administration to continue to Forcing the Gadeok Island Airport project with public’s tax as if it’s their own personal money. When the United States joins to- How do you interpret the voter compete militarily with China. a special law, even though it is estimated to require Dong-A Ilbo, Nov. 19 gether with fellow democracies, enthusiasm of this presidential Once again, the first aim should they will comprise more than half election? be to negotiate about regional and the global economy. “That gives us The country is highly mobilized global security, not to stoke a new substantial leverage to shape the politically, but also deeply divided. arms race. Brics strikes the right chord with its summit declaration rules of the road on everything,” The great challenge facing Biden is Biden wrote. to reunite the United States. Trump Do you believe the Biden admin- Chinese President Xi Jinping said in his speech at The joint call of the Brics members for countries Sachs said he supports a stable, was a relentless promoter of hatred istration will succeed in control- the 12th Brics Summit, hosted by Russia and held to strengthen their commitment to a world of peace, institutionalized cooperation. “We and division, both within the coun- ling the pandemic in the United via video on Tuesday, that unilateralism, protection- stability and prosperity, mutual respect and equal- must avoid an anti-China coali- try and internationally. States? ism and acts of bullying are becoming rampant, and ity, and to uphold the international laws enshrined tion,” he said. Yes, by implementing a combi- the deficits in governance, trust, development and in the Charter of the United Nations, and respect the To prevent a new Cold War be- Do you expect Biden will avoid a nation of improved public health peace are widening. central role of the UN deserves the attention of the tween the United States and China, new Cold War with China? measures and vaccine coverage in He said that these are the root causes of many of international community, particularly the United Sachs also proposed that the two The idea of a Cold War with 2021. the challenges the world faces, and he called on States, as it is undeniable that many of the difficul- countries establish extensive gov- China is terrible. We need to foster countries to uphold multilateralism, enhance their ties the world faces today would have been avoided ernment-to-government working cooperation with China, to address You have repeatedly praised the solidarity and coordination, and take concrete ac- or resolved had countries heeded these commit- groups on all key issues. challenges of Covid-19, economic South Korean government’s Co- tions to make the world a better place for everyone. ments in the first place. Sachs said Biden will offer prac- development, economic recovery, vid-19 control, but Korean peo- For the variety of issues it covers and the clear- When Xi said in his speech in the summit, tical solutions to crises facing the climate change, nuclear disarma- ple, like Americans, are experi- cut stand it takes on them, the Moscow Declaration “Flouting rules and laws, treading the path of uni- United States, such as the Covid-19 ment and peaceful use of the inter- encing tremendous economic issued after the summit can be taken as the five lateralism and bullying, and withdrawing from in- pandemic and high unemployment.