## Global Industrial Chain Restructuring: Why Korea, Japan, Europe, and the US Can't Do Without China's Supply Chain

By the end of 2025, as countries begin to recalculate the costs of "economic autonomy," an unavoidable reality emerges—the global economic landscape has already formed an industrial ecosystem centered around China. The once heated "decoupling theory" has been completely silenced in the face of hard data.

### Manufacturing Dominance: From Industrial Products to New Energy

China's manufacturing value-added has reached nearly 30% of the global total, a figure that speaks volumes. Among the top 500 global industrial products, over 220 types are ranked first in output. From basic consumer goods to advanced equipment, every link in the global industrial chain is inseparable from "Made in China."

The leading position in the new energy sector is even more evident. Photovoltaic modules account for 70% of the global market share, wind power equipment 60%. The EU relies on solar panels for up to 98%, and Portugal depends on China for 85%. Even if Europe builds domestic factories, existing capacity can only meet 15%-20% of global demand, leaving a huge gap that is difficult to fill.

BYD's battery factory in Hungary and CATL's planned 100GWh capacity are not just production facilities but are part of a complete industrial chain supporting system that is being transplanted. This mode of industrial transfer, carrying standards, technology, and ecological systems, makes local substitution almost impossible.

### Transportation Infrastructure: Setting New Standards for Technical Reliability

Within two years of opening, the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway has transported over 12 million passengers, with a peak of 26,700 passengers per day. This is not just a number; behind it is a record of safe operation over 5.65 million kilometers under complex geological conditions with frequent rain and earthquakes, and over 95% punctuality.

This technological stability has attracted global attention. The local economy along the line has also exploded—Karawang station has become a new hub for foreign investment, hundreds of small and micro enterprises have emerged around Bandung, and over 500,000 international tourists have visited. If other countries want to replicate this success, they will inevitably need to leverage China's infrastructure construction capabilities.

### Key Elements and Market Dual Control

Control over key minerals and elements in the new energy industry chain has become a strategic high ground. Rare earth processing accounts for 87% globally, lithium resources 78%, cobalt 65%. In battery core materials, cathodes account for 68.2%, anodes 84.1%, and total battery output 76.4%.

At the same time, China also dominates the largest consumer market. In 2024, exports of pure electric vehicles accounted for 24.7% of the global total, and lithium battery exports 54.9%. The phenomenon of German automakers' electric vehicle sales increasing by 63% in China fundamentally reflects that—China provides not only core components but also the largest end-market, making mutual dependence a fait accompli.

### Reflection of Korea's Industry Dilemma

Korea's battery and automotive industries are especially dependent on China's supply chain. Achieving supply chain transfer faces dual pressures of time and capital costs. This is not just Korea's problem but an inevitable result of the evolution of global industrial division of labor.

### Aerospace: From Monopoly to Openness

China's stable operation of its space station has broken the long-standing technological monopoly in aerospace. Cooperation agreements with Pakistan and the advancement of foreign astronaut programs mean that countries lacking autonomous space stations can only seek China's support for crewed space activities. French media have already acknowledged that China's breakthroughs in aerospace have thoroughly rewritten the landscape of technological competition.

### Economic Reality of Decoupling Hypotheses

Why has the ideal "decoupling" never been realized? The US manufacturing return strategy has continued for eight years, yet the proportion of China's manufacturing has kept rising, especially in key minerals and new energy vehicles, with dependency increasing. Japan's high-end manufacturing industry also cannot do without feedback from the Chinese market and component supply. The costs for European countries to exclude China are even more staggering—no country can truly afford it.

German media's evaluation hits the mark: China has become a "world factory" and "economic stabilizer" dual role. When countries pick up their calculators to recalculate, the reality has already spoken for itself.

### New Global Economic Logic

This cognitive adjustment by the end of 2025 essentially acknowledges an already existing fact—China has deeply integrated into every level of the global economic system. From Europe's reliance on new energy transformation to Southeast Asia's infrastructure upgrades, from everyday manufacturing to cutting-edge exploration, China's role has become irreplaceable.

The future is not about China fighting to be needed, but about the fact that all countries worldwide face—unavoidable reliance on China. This is not propaganda; it is supply chain layout, market share, and an industrial chain fact that every country cannot avoid.