2016年CRI Chinese Experts Warn over THAAD Deployment in South Korea

The "alliance decision" to begin formal talks over a possible deployment 1 of the THAAD missile system in South Korea was announced in the wake of recent satellite launch by the North.

South Korea insisted that the possible deployment will be "only operated against North Korea."

THAAD is a United States Army anti-ballistic missile system designed to shoot down short, medium, and intermediate ballistic missiles as they approach their targets. The missile carries no warhead but relies on impact to destroy the incoming missile.

Yang Xiyu with the China Institute of International Studies said the THAAD system seemed an overreaction, if the only targets were North Korea's missiles.

"A short-range missile from the DPRK is able to cover the entire peninsula and poses a real threat to the south, but it is not something the THAAD is designed to deter 2."

The U.S. has deployed 3 THAAD units in Hawaii, Guam, and Turkey, and is reportedly in talks with Japan over a possible deployment.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi spoke 4 out against the latest move in South Korea, suggesting there might be other motives 5 concealed 6 behind the deployment.

"To be very honest with you, it doesn't require experts to know this. Ordinary people would know that the deployment of the THAAD system is not just to defend the ROK, it has a wider agenda and it may even serve the possibility of targeting China."

Professor Yang Xiyu explains that THAAD uses satellite surveillance and advanced long range radar 7 to detect incoming missiles, a capability 8 that could also extend well into China and Russia.

"The THAAD is in fact targeting the ballistic missile systems of China and Russia. Therefore, this deployment is not just a threat to any specific country; it is a threat to the strategic stability of the whole region. Of course it will put China's security at risk."

Piao Guanghai, an expert on Korean Peninsula affairs, believes the possible deployment in South Korea could indeed serve the interests of the United States.

"In general, the tension on the Korean Peninsula is used by the US as a tool to serve its strategies that are aimed at driving a wedge into the relations between China and South Korea, pushing forward with its rebalance to Asia Pacific and enhancing a triangle alliance between itself, South Korea and Japan."

Yang Xiyu with the China Institute of International Studies added that the new deployment in South Korea will not be a quantitative 9 addition to the U.S. missile defense 10, but a qualitative 11 change that would trigger future changes in regional strategic situation.

But he is confident that China would have its own strategy amid such a threat.

"China will make extra efforts in two aspects, one is to step up the defense budget and improve its self-defense capabilities 12. The other is about diplomacy 13. China will strive to realize the goal of denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula while helping 14 maintain peace and stability in the region."

It's reported that talks over any THAAD deployment may start next week.

For CRI, this is Luo Bin 15.