6 opposition lawmakers visiting China to oppose THAAD

Six first-term lawmakers with the main opposition Minjoo Party of Korea, who are opposed to the deployment of the terminal high-altitude area defense (THAAD) system in South Korea, are visiting Beijing from Monday, saying that they will check situation in China. They are Kim Yeong-ho, Kim Byeong-ok, Park Jeong, Shin Dong-geun, and Sohn Hye-won. They are scheduled to hold a forum with Beijing University professors, but will reportedly not meet with senior officials with the Chinese Communist Party. Rep. Kim Yeong-ho studied international politics at Beijing University, and is serving as secretary for the party’s THAAD response committee, but other lawmakers are not specializing in foreign affairs and diplomacy. Rep. Sohn has uploaded a Twitter post urging people to join a campaign to make an appeal to the U.S. White House in against THAAD deployment.

The intention of lawmakers who are seeking to find a solution amid Seoul-Beijing conflict over THAAD is understandable. Rep. Kim Yeong-ho said, “I want to ask the Chinese government to take more aggressive acts to deter Pyongyang from pursuing nuclear development going forward.’” However, there is virtually zero chance for Beijing to pay attention to and accept his demand. On the contrary, chances are high that Beijing will use the lawmakers in its propaganda from the moment they arrive at the Beijing airport, saying that lawmakers opposed to THAAD deployment have come to China. China is screening and editing articles by Koreans protesting THAAD deployment, and only publishing messages that it likes on its media outlets.

It is for this reason that Kim Jong-in, chairman of the party’s emergency committee, expressed a negative view on such moves, saying, “I have no idea what kind of diplomacy they will pursue.” Despite this, the fact Rep. Sohn is refuting him by saying, “Are we going to China to sell our country?” is an act that she apparently has taken due to her lack of understanding about ramifications that the visit will bring about and its seriousness. Some critics say that in the Minjoo Party, real activists-turned lawmakers are keeping silence since they are mindful of ramifications, and only certain lawmakers who are confused with politics and civic movement are taking the lead in protesting THAAD deployment. Even if they take such acts in order to increase their public visibility, they will be easily criticized as engaging in "toadyish diplomacy" and taking "acts of betrayal."

Through an editorial in the People’s Daily on Friday, China clearly expressed its intention to retaliate South Korea. As the South Korean government is highly wary of neighboring countries and people opposed to THAAD deployment, while not only opposition parties but also ruling Saenuri Parity lawmakers representing the Daegu-North Gyeongsang region are opposing the measure, China might misjudge that it would be possible to withdraw THADD deployment if it pushes further. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will also feel thrilled to see nonsensical South Korean politics that continue internal dispute over THAAD. Even though ruling and opposition parties lock horns without reservation, they would pool wisdom and seek unity for the public’s sake in the face of a national crisis if they are in a well-functioning country. It is rational and reasonable that the first-term lawmakers with the Minjoo Party suspend their visit to China, and instead discuss issues over THAAD at the National Assembly.

한기흥기자 eligius@donga.com