China warns THAAD will destabilize regional security

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has criticized South Korea’s move to deploy THAAD, an advanced U.S. anti-missile defense system to counter threats from North Korea, saying it harmed the foundation of their mutual trust, news reports said on Monday.

The announcement by South Korea and the United States this month that they would deploy a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense unit has already drawn protests from Beijing that it would destabilize regional security.

The decision to deploy THAAD is the latest move to squeeze the increasingly isolated North Korea, but China worries the system’s radar will be able to track its military capabilities. Russia also opposes the deployment.

South Korea and the United States have said THAAD would only be used in defense against North Korean ballistic missiles.

[Reuters]

This entry was posted in China by Grant Montgomery.