China calls for THAAD to be removed from South Korea

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying

China has once again expressed opposition to the deployment of an advanced US missile system in South Korea, calling on Seoul to remove the controversial Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD).

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying made the remark at a regular press briefing in Beijing on Thursday.

South Korea and the US say the sole purpose of the THAAD system, which is meant to intercept and destroy short- and medium-range ballistic missiles during their final phase of flight, is to guard against potential threats from North Korea.

But China’s state-owned media, citing a statement from the Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, said the “deployment will severely damage China’s security interests and undermine the regional strategic balance.”

The statement further said that Beijing was “gravely concerned” over reports about new THAAD launchers, which have been installed in addition to the two that had already been deployed.

A THAAD missile is seen being launched during a test in this undated handout photo provided by the US Department of Defense. (Via Reuters)

Earlier this week, South Korean President Moon Jae-in announced that documents submitted to him after being sworn into office had been intentionally censored to conceal information on the installment of four new rocket launchers.

Moon’s spokesman, Yoon Young-chan, said all military officials involved in generating the report admitted that these key parts had been removed from the text in the editing process.

North Korea and China believe the THAAD deployment is meant to expand US hegemony. They also believe that the deployment of the US missile system on the Korean Peninsula would destabilize the region’s security by upsetting the military status quo.