China Concerned Over US Air-Defence Tech In Korea

China Concerned Over US Air-Defence Tech In Korea

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China has a lot on its plate. The eastern giant got tangled up in a game of chicken over control of the South China Sea that shows no signs of abating. The downturn in the global economy is leaving the world’s manufacturer to wade in murky waters. Even China’s pet dictator in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is acting up and sending shivers up Beijing’s spine. Now, vexation is coming China’s way after South Korea announced it will consider allowing the US to station a ballistic missile defence system within its borders.

The statement from South Korea came after the country’s northern neighbour announced that it had launched a long-range rocket, prompting fears in the US ally. The American Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system targets the high-altitude missiles that have South Korea worried.

Reaction from Beijing promptly followed, saying the the People’s Republic was “deeply concerned” over the news.

“China holds a consistent and clear stance on the anti-missile issue,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said. “When pursuing its own security, one country should not impair other’s security interests.”

This move, the Chinese hold, could escalate tensions in the already strained atmosphere of the region.

Their concerns are not without merit, thinks Richard Bitzinger, a senior fellow at the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore.

“The Chinese are doing anything possible to head off what they think might be a potential weapon that could be used against them,” Bitzinger said. “You can say everything you want, that this is not directed against the Chinese, but the fact of the matter is, it potentially could be.”

What is likely is that US officials hope this move would put pressure on Beijing to rein in its North Korean dependent. China exports significant amounts of energy and food supplies to North Korea, and the US along with the world community has called for it to cut trade.