By Yi Whan-woo
China is increasingly pressuring South Korea to act more to ensure that the installment of a U.S. missile shield here will not pose a threat to its security, despite their recent agreement to normalize bilateral ties and resolve a row over the defense system.
Beijing appears to be interpreting the agreement unilaterally to ensure that the deployment of the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery will not pose a threat to its security.
The move has baffled Seoul as it concluded the agreement completely settled the THAAD dispute and that any related issues should no longer be brought up.
Announced Oct. 31, the deal calls for an end to the diplomatic row over THAAD.
The South Korean version of the agreement states that Seoul reiterated its understanding when Beijing expressed concerns over three possibilities _ South Korea joining a U.S.-led missile defense system, the additional deployment of more THAAD batteries, and a Seoul-Washington-Tokyo military alliance.
But Chinese leaders including President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Keqiang and Foreign Minister Wang Yi have interpreted the agreement differently. According to Chinese media, they claimed that Seoul actually promised to say "no" to such possibilities from happening and therefore it should take measures accordingly.
The dispute over the THAAD agreement escalated last week after the Huanqiu Shibao, a daily newspaper under the auspices of the People's Daily, reported that Wang asked Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha to operate the THAAD battery already deployed in South Korea in a limited manner and ensure it will not "harm China's strategic interests."
China has been concerned about THAAD's long-range radar being used to spy on its military activities, despite Washington's assurance that it is only aimed at detecting and deterring North Korea's ballistic missile provocations.
Cheong Wa Dae, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Defense all downplayed China's interpretation of the agreement, reiterating the government's view that the THAAD dispute has been settled.
"A subjective view should be dealt with separately from reality," a foreign ministry official said, adding that China and South Korea have been announcing their respective views over conflicting issues.
But analysts expressed concern that the Moon Jae-in administration appears to be "being pushed around and losing the initiative" involving the protracted THAAD dispute.
"China appears to be trying to seize the initiative in its normalized relations with South Korea in order to eventually limit U.S. influence on the region," said Kwak Jin-o, a senior researcher at the Northeast Asian History Foundation. "Instead of taking retaliatory measures as it did in the past over THAAD, Beijing seems to be stepping up pressure on Seoul gradually this time."
Experts downplayed speculation that Beijing's demand over THAAD may be based on a secret deal with Seoul separate from the official THAAD agreement.
However, they said the Moon government should more clearly explain the reasons behind the gap between Seoul and Beijing over the deal.
"I urge the government to actively explain whenever China insists on its view of the agreement," Kwak said.
He put aside concerns that the THAAD dispute may become as controversial as the agreement reached between South Korea and Japan in 2015 over wartime sex slaves.
That controversy centered on the difference between the governments of President Park Geun-hye and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in interpreting the 2015 deal aimed at settling the historical dispute and mending their frayed ties.
The Moon administration has been calling the deal void and asked for a renegotiation.
"Opposition party leaders are expected to raise questions over the THAAD deal but not its renegotiation. Considering China's nature, asking for a renegotiation will only worsen the situation," Kwak said.
China is increasingly pressuring South Korea to act more to ensure that the installment of a U.S. missile shield here will not pose a threat to its security, despite their recent agreement to normalize bilateral ties and resolve a row over the defense system.
Beijing appears to be interpreting the agreement unilaterally to ensure that the deployment of the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery will not pose a threat to its security.
The move has baffled Seoul as it concluded the agreement completely settled the THAAD dispute and that any related issues should no longer be brought up.
Announced Oct. 31, the deal calls for an end to the diplomatic row over THAAD.
The South Korean version of the agreement states that Seoul reiterated its understanding when Beijing expressed concerns over three possibilities _ South Korea joining a U.S.-led missile defense system, the additional deployment of more THAAD batteries, and a Seoul-Washington-Tokyo military alliance.
But Chinese leaders including President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Keqiang and Foreign Minister Wang Yi have interpreted the agreement differently. According to Chinese media, they claimed that Seoul actually promised to say "no" to such possibilities from happening and therefore it should take measures accordingly.
The dispute over the THAAD agreement escalated last week after the Huanqiu Shibao, a daily newspaper under the auspices of the People's Daily, reported that Wang asked Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha to operate the THAAD battery already deployed in South Korea in a limited manner and ensure it will not "harm China's strategic interests."
China has been concerned about THAAD's long-range radar being used to spy on its military activities, despite Washington's assurance that it is only aimed at detecting and deterring North Korea's ballistic missile provocations.
Cheong Wa Dae, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Defense all downplayed China's interpretation of the agreement, reiterating the government's view that the THAAD dispute has been settled.
"A subjective view should be dealt with separately from reality," a foreign ministry official said, adding that China and South Korea have been announcing their respective views over conflicting issues.
But analysts expressed concern that the Moon Jae-in administration appears to be "being pushed around and losing the initiative" involving the protracted THAAD dispute.
"China appears to be trying to seize the initiative in its normalized relations with South Korea in order to eventually limit U.S. influence on the region," said Kwak Jin-o, a senior researcher at the Northeast Asian History Foundation. "Instead of taking retaliatory measures as it did in the past over THAAD, Beijing seems to be stepping up pressure on Seoul gradually this time."
Experts downplayed speculation that Beijing's demand over THAAD may be based on a secret deal with Seoul separate from the official THAAD agreement.
However, they said the Moon government should more clearly explain the reasons behind the gap between Seoul and Beijing over the deal.
"I urge the government to actively explain whenever China insists on its view of the agreement," Kwak said.
He put aside concerns that the THAAD dispute may become as controversial as the agreement reached between South Korea and Japan in 2015 over wartime sex slaves.
That controversy centered on the difference between the governments of President Park Geun-hye and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in interpreting the 2015 deal aimed at settling the historical dispute and mending their frayed ties.
The Moon administration has been calling the deal void and asked for a renegotiation.
"Opposition party leaders are expected to raise questions over the THAAD deal but not its renegotiation. Considering China's nature, asking for a renegotiation will only worsen the situation," Kwak said.
