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KORUS alliance amid China's opposition against THAAD

Posted September. 06, 2016 06:59,   

Updated September. 06, 2016 07:31

한국어

Chinese President Xi Jinping told his South Korean counterpart, President Park Geun-hye, that China is against the deployment of the THAAD anti-missile defense system during the summit held in Hangzhou, China, according to Chinese media. "Mishandling the issue is not conducive to strategic stability in the region and could intensify disputes," the media quoted Xi. The South Korean presidential office of Cheong Wa Dae did not provide any further details of Xi’s comment, simply confirm‎ing that the leaders of both countries exchanged opinions based on their positions. Seoul seems to be cautious about allowing the details going public, while the two leaders have failed to come to the same page in the issue.

In his opening speech, Xi started off by pointing out that Hangzhou was the place where the interim government of the Republic of Korea was based on for three years in the 1930s. He also stressed that Gen. Kim Shin, a son of Kim Gu, a leader of Korean independence movement, left a writing that goes “Think of its source when drinking water, the friendship of Korea and China” on his visit to China in 1996. It was the Kuomintang party led by Chiang Kai-shek who had supported Korea's independent movement, but Xi’s intention can be seen as to emphasize the bilateral friendship. The bilateral relationship today, however, has become far from what had been in the past.

North Korea fired three ballistic missiles into the East Sea on Monday. Such an action is equivalent to a sort of protest against the international community, telling the world it will take "my way." China's turning a blind eye to the North who maintains its aggressive nuclear and missile development policy while standing against the South’s plan to deploy an anti-defense system is a threat against the mutual strategic cooperative relationship with South Korea. Its recent attempt to claim the South China Sea as its territory by positioning a dozen vessels near the disputed area of the Scarborough Shoal, despite the decision by the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), is also worrisome. China cannot be respected as a global leader if it continues to pose threats against its neighbors.

President Park had visited the top of the fortress of Tiananmen last year to win over her Chinese counterpart on the North Korea issue, only to see her efforts fall through. Now the realistic path South Korea should take is to push forward THAAD deployment as a national survival strategy, instead of relying on China, which continues to side with the North. President Park is scheduled meet with U.S. President Barack Obama during the ASEAM summit to be held in Laos, this week. Our only reliable ally would be the United States in the face of China’s arrogance. President Park should take the opportunity to discuss what measures would be necessary to curb North Korea’s nuclear threats and China’s patronage.



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