China, Russia slam US missile system deployment in South Korea

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang

China and Russia have slammed the deployment of a US missile system to South Korea, with Beijing vowing to defend its security interests.

“We are firmly opposed to the deployment of THAAD (missile system) in the Republic of Korea (ROK) by the US and the ROK,” China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang announced during a regular press briefing in Beijing on Tuesday.

“China will resolutely take necessary measures to defend our own security interests. All consequences entailed from this will be borne by the US and the ROK,” he added, without elaborating on the sorts of measures it would consider.

Geng further called on “relevant parties to stop the deployment and not to travel down that wrong path.”

On Monday, the US military’s Pacific Command declared it had begun deploying the so-called Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system to South Korea, claiming that it is aimed at defending its ally against a potential North Korean attack.

This handout photo from the US Forces Korea (USFK) taken on March 6, 2017 shows the first elements of the THAAD missile system arriving at Osan US Air Base in Pyeongtaek. (By AFP)

Beijing has also taken measures against South Korean multinational conglomerate Lotte Group, which provided the land to host THAAD.

Chinese protesters have staged rallies to denounce Lotte, which is also targeted with multiple threats of consumer or business boycotts.

The South Korean news agency Yonhap further reported on Tuesday that Chinese authorities had shut down 39 of Lotte’s retail outlets in the country, citing fire-safety concerns.

The Russian Foreign Ministry also said on Tuesday the THAAD deployment is bringing the situation on the already-volatile Korean Peninsula into a stalemate, Interfax reported.

The THAAD system is meant to intercept and destroy short- and medium-range ballistic missiles during their final phase of flight.