Posted on 02/12/2016 12:00:14 AM PST by TigerLikesRooster
China FM voices 'serious concern' over possible deployment of U.S. shield in Korea
Published : 2016-02-12 16:13
Updated : 2016-02-12 16:15
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi expressed "serious concern" over a decision by South Korea to begin formal talks with the United States to adopt an advanced U.S. missile defense system, according to China's foreign ministry on Friday.
Wang conveyed the concern to South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se during their meeting in Munich on the sidelines of international talks on Syria on Thursday, the Chinese ministry said in a statement.
"Minister Wang Yi expresses serious concern," the statement said.
Wang also told Yun that the possible deployment of the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery in South Korea is "not conducive to taking the proper response to the current situation and is not conducive to maintaining peace and stability in the region."
Earlier this week, South Korea decided to begin talks with the U.S. about the deployment of the THAAD battery after North Korea defiantly launch a long-range rocket following its fourth nuclear test last month.
With North Korea continuing to develop its nuclear and missile arsenals, analysts in Seoul say South Korea has no choice but to adopt the THAAD battery, which would be deployed at a U.S. base in South Korea, home to about 28,500 American troops.
U.N. Security Council members remain divided over how to punish North Korea for its fourth nuclear test on Jan. 6, with China, one of five veto-wielding council members, reluctant to put crippling sanctions on North Korea.
During the meeting with Yun, Wang repeated China's lukewarm stance about imposing harsher penalties against North Korea.
"Sanctions are not an end in themselves," Wang told Yun, according to the statement.
China is North Korea's diplomatic and economic lifeline, but analysts say China's leadership is reluctant to impose tougher sanctions on North Korea because a sudden collapse of the regime could spark a refugee crisis at its border and lead to a pro-U.S., democratic Korea on its doorstep.
China's U.N. ambassador, Liu Jieyi, also made it clear that Beijing's priority is not imposing tougher sanctions against North Korea.
Liu told a U.N. meeting on Thursday that discussions about new sanctions against North Korea's nuclear test and rocket launch should be dealt with "in an objective, fair and neutral manner,"
according to a separate statement by the Chinese foreign ministry. (Yonhap)
The deployment site is still under discussion. However, Defense Ministry spokesman made it clear that they would ignore concerns raised by neighboring countries when it comes to picking a deployment site. This remark is basically aimed at China, which has been making a lot of noise against the deployment.
P!
China should take care of South Korea
Merkel and Obama will take the refugees. Damn, that just might be true!
Ah, most impolite of you not to expose your neck to our irrational lunatic friend here.
I may be in the minority. But I support this move along with additional U.S. forces, and more strategic hardware. If only we had a Regan like type leader, to stand up to China. And it’s proxies.
Ping
Tough noodles, China.
Do something about the nutcase in North Korea,then maybe we’ll talk.
North Korea is testing H-bombs and ballistic missiles...and China doesn’t want to impose sanctions (??)
I think China is using North Korea as a military proxy.
China will continue to act as a business competitor, acting like a pseudo-capitalist and a “normal” player in global markets...meanwhile North Korea is free to act as the bad guy and freely display its military intentions.
They are one and the same communist block. One side makes all the money then gives it to the other side to spend on tactical strike weapons.
China loves bloody henchman.
I do believe that its inevitable that Thaad will be deployed there.
What I’m really waiting for is the other shoe to drop when Japan deploys it as well.
The Chinese poker face on NK has gotten rather thin.
It’s long past time for this to cost something.
Unless China is planning to launch missiles at South Korea I don’t see how this is a concern.
L
China is getting close to military tech-parity with us. It’s not like they couldn’t just wave their hands and the missile shield be rendered much less effective. They should shut the piehole.
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