Biden tours computer chip factory as he opens visit to allies in Asia

President Joe Biden opened a trip to Asia on Friday by touring a South Korean computer chip factory that will be the model for another plant in Texas, offering it as a way to deepen ties with the Indo Pacific region, fuel technological innovation and foster vibrant democracies.

“So much of the future of the world is going to be written here, in the Indo Pacific, over the next several decades,” Biden said. “This is the moment, in my view, to invest in one another to deepen our business ties, to bring our people even closer together.”

Biden’s message was pitched toward the promise of a better tomorrow, yet was also aimed at U.S. voters amid political challenges at home, such as inflation driven higher by the chip shortage, as he tries to show that his administration is delivering on economic growth.

The Democrat’s first visit to Asia as president came as polling released Friday by The Associated PRESS-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found Biden’s U.S. approval rating at 39%, the lowest point of his presidency. The survey also found deepening pessimism about the economy and the state of the United States — especially among Democrats.

Samsung, the Korean chip plant’s owner, last November announced plans to open a $17 billion semiconductor factory in Texas. A semiconductor shortage last year hurt the availability of autos, kitchen appliances and other goods, causing higher inflation worldwide and crippling Biden’s public approval among U.S. voters. The president noted that the Texas plant would add 3,000 high-tech jobs and the construction would include union labor.