If China Doesn't Like THAAD, It Should Squeeze North Korea

Ted Galen Carpenter

Global Governance, Asia

Seoul isn't looking to pick a fight with Beijing.

Beijing is agitated about the decision by the United States and South Korea to deploy the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) ballistic missile defense system. Although the principal impetus for the THAAD deployment seems to have been North Korea’s increasingly erratic and provocative behavior, Chinese leaders suspect that the system is at least indirectly aimed at their country. THAAD radars can scan deep into Chinese territory and the system’s overall capability to knock missiles out of the sky may pose a threat to the continued viability of China’s largely land-based nuclear deterrent.

Chinese officials are annoyed with Seoul’s acquiescence in the scheme that there is apparent consideration being given to economic retaliation. More paranoid types in the Chinese elite even believe that instead of facing two separate bilateral alliances led by the United States, China now confronts a united triangular alliance encompassing the United States, Japan and South Korea. That view is encouraged by speculative stories in the Western and other non-PRC news outlets.