China urges S. Korea to address THAAD issue

“The deployment of the THAAD system in South Korea is an obstacle to China’s relations with the nation. Restoring the relationship would not be possible without first resolving THAAD issues thoroughly.”

Wei Wei, the vice president of the Chinese People’s Institute of Foreign Affairs (CPIFA), was quoted as saying at the Korea-China Future Development Think Tank High-level Forum, which was held in Beijing on Monday. While the forum was designed to promote mutual understanding and amity between the two countries and discuss ways to improve their relations, the focal point of discussion was the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense missile system.

The vice president of CPIFA also mentioned the “Three Bans, One Restriction,” a phrase proposed in an article in the Chines state-run newspaper Global Times on October 29. The phase refers to China’s stance that South Korea and China have reached an agreement on a restriction of making use of the THAAD system as well as on three bans (deploying additional THAAD systems, joining the U.S. Missile Defense system and advancing a tripartite alliance between South Korea, the U.S. and Japan).

“The situation is complicated, but their decision to deploy the THAAD system in South Korea in July was inappropriate,” said a member of the Committee of Foreign Affairs of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference. “South Korea should have considered the possibility of infringing upon the interests of their neighbors. I am afraid that the relations have cooled off owing to the THAAD issues. The responsibility lies in South Korea.”

Wan-Jun Yun zeitung@donga.com