“It’s dismaying” - S. Korea and China fail to bridge differences over THAAD

Posted on : 2017-08-07 16:55 KST Modified on : 2017-08-07 16:55 KST
At meeting, Chinese foreign minister offers unusually frank criticism of Moon administration’s decisions
South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha shakes hands with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi before their meeting at the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) foreign ministers’ meeting in Manila
South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha shakes hands with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi before their meeting at the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) foreign ministers’ meeting in Manila

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi voiced strong displeasure to his South Korean counterpart Kang Kyung-wha over the Moon Jae-in administration’s decision last month to speed up deployment on the THAAD missile defense system, saying “[The Moon Jae-in administration] has thrown cold water on bilateral relations that had been improving” and “It‘s dismaying.”

Wang and Kang met on Aug. 6 in Manila, where they were attending the 24th ASEAN Regional Forum foreign ministers’ meeting. The South Korean government said the exchange had reconfirmed existing differences between the two sides on THAAD. But the open display of displeasure and overt characterization of Seoul‘s steps to hasten deployment as signaling its participating in a US-led missile defense system were seen as unusual for a South Korea-China foreign ministers’ meeting.

The roughly hour-long meeting between the South Korean and Chinese foreign ministers began at 6 pm that day. In it, Wang expressed dismay at the Moon administration’s decision to temporarily deploy an additional four THAAD launchers at its base in Seongju, North Gyeongsang Province, following North Korea’s test of the Hwasong-14 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) last month.

“We should use this opportunity to exchange views with [Kang] in depth on how to respond to the next stage and to improve and restore our bilateral relations,” he said.

After opening the meeting with these remarks in front of journalists, Wang remained expressionless as he spoke. Just before voicing dismay to Kang, Wang noted that Moon had “indicated his intention to improve relations with China and amend the misguided actions of the past.”

“He has shown consideration [for China] with his actions. This is a good beginning for our relationship,” he said.

But Wang then immediately launched into a criticism of the Moon administration‘s decision, saying he had “no choice but to remark” upon it.

In response, Kang said, “In connection with the THAAD deployment decision, it is a fact that the threat had been substantially heightened by North Korea’s recent additional provocations, and this decision was made by the president at a time when South Koreans‘ concerns and fears have profoundly intensified.”

“It was a decision made in defensive interests,” she explained.

Kang also stressed the importance of bilateral relations and the significance of the meeting.

“It is true that there have been some difficulties in the bilateral relationship, and I feel that we need to resolve difficulties through frequent communication,” she said.

Wang continued raising issues after the meeting ended. In a meeting with reporters, he asked whether THAAD “is actually capable of stopping ICBMs.”

“In my opinion, the answer to that question is very clear. That is why we have had so many questions about this,” he said.

“We understand South Korea being interested in security,” Wang continued.

“But South Korea’s interests with regard to security must not generate factors of instability for China,” he insisted.

Wang also revealed that he asked Kang “whether [the Moon administration] believes it accords with South Korea‘s interests for South Korea to join in a US-led missile defense system, and whether the South Korean public will accept this [decision].”

“South Korea needs to think seriously about this issue,” he said.

A South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs official who was present at the foreign ministers’ meeting said Kang “clearly explained that the THAAD deployment did not mean joining in missile defense.”

In another meeting with reporters around the same time, Kang said Wang had “reiterated China’s basic position” on THAAD.

“We explained sufficiently about the circumstances in which we temporarily deployed four [launchers] amid North Korea’s intensifying provocations,” she said.

Despite Kang and the ministry‘s emphasis on “sufficient communication and explanation,” Seoul and Beijing did not find themselves any closer that day to bridging their differences over THAAD.

By Kim Ji-eun, staff reporter in Manila

Please direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]

 

 

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