By Yi Whan-woo
The United States fired back at China, Tuesday, over Beijing’s objection to its deployment of an advanced U.S missile defense system on the Korean Peninsula.
“I find it curious that a third country would presume to make strong representations about a security system that has not been put in place and is still a matter of theory,” Daniel Russel, the U.S. assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, told reporters after meeting Deputy Minister for Political Affairs Lee Kyung-soo in Seoul.
The U.S. diplomat, however, added that it was up to Seoul to “decide what measures it will take in its own defense alliance and when” regarding the possible deployment of Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) on Korean soil.
THAAD is an U.S. anti-ballistic missile system that can shoot down short, medium and intermediate ballistic missiles at a higher altitude in their terminal phase using a hit-to-kill method.
Russel reiterated Washington’s explanation that THAAD’s primary purpose is to deter North Korean military threats.
“I do know that the Republic of Korea and the United States face a significant threat from North Korea’s growing ballistic missile program,” Russel said.
“It’s a program that North Korea is pursuing in violation of international law and our military authorities have a responsibility to consider systems that will protect the Republic of Korea and its citizens, as well as protecting the United States from that threat.”
Russel’s remarks came after Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Jianchao asked South Korea to consider carefully its position over THAAD amid a growing confrontation between the world’s two superpowers.
Liu, who had a separate meeting with Lee, Monday, asked Seoul and Washington to make a “sound judgment” over the disputed U.S. missile interceptors.
Russel told reporters THAAD was not on the agenda in his meeting with Lee. But he said that it is “very much in the public domain now” because of Liu’s comment Monday.
China has been protesting against deploying THAAD, claiming it will target China as part of U.S efforts to enhance its hegemony in East Asia. It has cited that THAAD, which has a range of around 2,000 kilometers, would go way beyond any goal of countering missiles from North Korea.
South Korea has yet to decide whether to allow the U.S. to deploy THAAD here at all times and has maintained strategic ambiguity to appease China.
Seoul also is in a dilemma over whether to join the China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), which is seen as a challenge against the U.S.-led international financial order.
Liu renewed China’s call for South Korea to join the AIIB as a founding member.
Russel responded by asking Seoul to be prudent in its move.
“Every government can make its own decision about whether the way to achieve that goal is by joining before the articles of agreement are clarified or by waiting to see what the evidence looks like as the bank starts operating,” he said.
Russel also said the AIIB should be transparent in its goal to provide infrastructural funds to clients in the Asia-Pacific region. The U.S. has been concerned about whether the AIIB would meet the standards of the World Bank and other regional banks in terms of governance, lending standards and procurement rules.
“To seek unmistakable evidence that if this bank is to be in fact a multilateral development bank, then it has to take as its starting point the high watermark of what other multilateral development banks have done in terms of governance over the past few decades.”
A foreign ministry official rebuffed allegation that South Korea is “sandwiched” between the two superpowers over the two thorny issues.
“South Korea has seen an increase in its diplomatic leverage over the past decades and we’re not in a position to be swayed by international powers,” he told a press meeting Tuesday evening.
“I understand we’re dealing with strategically and economically crucial issues and we’ll make smart and rational decisions.”