Anti-THAAD move should aim for optimal results

Source:Global Times Published: 2016/8/9 23:43:39

South Korean President Park Geun-hye said Monday that she is "ready to take whatever criticism to protect the public" when talking about the split in the country's political public opinion field caused by the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile system. She rebuked a visit to China by six anti-THAAD lawmakers as being "sympathetic to China's stance." On Sunday, a  Blue House spokesperson blamed Beijing for behaving "out of place" over the THAAD deployment, accusing China of not treating Pyongyang's nuclear and missiles tests as a problem, while making THAAD an issue instead.

The voice of the South Korean government's returning fire against China's criticism over THAAD is growing. Apart from that, the South Korean mainstream media's denunciations of Beijing for acting pettily or failing to respect Seoul are no less than the Chinese criticisms toward the THAAD deployment.

So far, there is hardly any solution to break the deadlock between China and South Korea over the anti-missile defense system, which will likely cause long-term damage to the bilateral relationship.

China has already adopted sanctions toward South Korea. But they are more like a signal - to bring additional pressure to bear on South Korea. However, China won't necessarily stop Seoul from deploying THAAD. The possible scenario could be that economic and trade cooperation will be immensely harmed amid a cooling relationship, but THAAD is deployed anyway.

The THAAD deployment comes at the cost of China's security, and Seoul must also pay the price for that.

If so, both Beijing and Seoul will suffer great losses while the US will reap the spoils effortlessly. This is evidently not the best plan. Nevertheless, if China turns a blind eye to THAAD, it will be an even worse strategy. Being taught a lesson for its recklessness this time, South Korea will at least think twice before it acts next time.

China should wage countermeasures against THAAD with good reason, with strength and with restraint. It is ridiculous for the Blue House to call us "out of place." China is for the moment forcefully sanctioning Pyongyang. Its ties with North Korea are going downward sharply. South Korean people should realize this.

If THAAD is to be deployed in South Korea, its threat toward China will be no less than the North Korean nuclear program. Beijing will pile a similar amount of pressure on Seoul as it puts on Pyongyang.

There is no major conflict over interests between China and South Korea. And there is no reason for hostility between the two either. It is hoped that South Korea can be rational and realize its position in the strategic game between China and the US. Since it has made its decision, it should prepare to bear the consequences.



Posted in: Observer

blog comments powered by Disqus