Beijing responds to deployment of missile system to South Korea

Qin Gang, spokesperson for China's foreign ministry, expressed the nation's opposition to the deployment of the US Terminal High Altitude Area Defense anti-ballistic missile defense system to South Korea at a press conference on May 28, reports the Chinese-language Beijing Morning Post.

Sources from the Pentagon told the Wall Street Journal on May 27 that Washington had made its decision to deploy the system to South Korea. Designed by Lockheed Martin, the primary purpose of the system is to intercept enemy ballistic missile at high or medium altitude. On the battlefield it can coordinate with the PAC-3 missile designed to destroy ballistic missiles or aircraft at low altitude. The US plans to purchase seven of the systems; only three of them are currently in service.

This deployment will strengthen the military cooperation among the United States, Japan and South Korea in anticipation of potential conflict with North Korea or even China.

There is a debate within the United States on how the systems should be deployed, with some believing that a THAAD system should be sent to the Middle East. Others said that at least two THAAD systems should be held in reserve, however some defense experts suggest that the United States can deploy a THAAD system, including its launchers and command post, to South Korea on a temporary basis.

After the system completes its service with the US forces, it could then be sold to the South Korean military. Some commentators further suggested that the Republic of Korea Armed Force could purchase the system first. A US delegation has been sent to South Korea on an inspection mission to seek the best location for the deployment of the system.

Qin Gang criticized the United States for what he said was a move to plant the seed of military conflict in one of China's neighboring countries. The spokesman said the deployment of the system to the Korean peninsula will not help to maintain regional stability and he called for the United States to rethink the deployment. He declined to comment on the effect of the policy on the relationship between China and the US.


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