China protests over US deploying missile system in South Korea

China lodged protests with US and South Korean ambassadors Friday over their countries’ decision to deploy an American missile defence system to counter threats from North Korea, a move Beijing said would damage regional security.

The deployment of the THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defence) system announced by Washington and Seoul would “will severely undermine regional strategic security and disrupt the strategic balance,” foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei told reporters.

“We strongly urge the US and the Republic of Korea to halt the deployment process,” he said, adding that Beijing “has launched solemn representations with their ambassadors,” without giving any more details.

The move would not aid the “denuclearisation” of the Korean peninsula, he added.

China is North Korea’s largest trading partner and has been its key diplomatic protector for decades.

But relations have soured over Pyongyang’s nuclear tests and long-range missile launches, with Beijing supporting UN sanctions.

Still, analysts say Beijing is concerned over any build up of US power on its doorstep and values Pyongyang as a strategic bulwark, while worrying THAAD could undermine its nuclear deterrent.

Chinese President Xi Jinping stressed the importance of “friendly relations” to a visiting North Korean official last month, even after the envoy reportedly told Chinese officials Pyongyang would continue with its internationally condemned nuclear programme.

The US and South Korea began talks on deploying the THAAD system to the Korean peninsula in February, when the North launched a long-range rocket following a fourth nuclear test in January.

They announced Friday that they had agreed to install it.

Separately, Washington this week imposed sanctions on North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un, calling him directly responsible for a long list of serious human rights abuses.

China condemned the move, with Hong telling a briefing Thursday that it opposed “public pressure, confrontation and one country’s imposing unilateral sanctions on another country by citing domestic laws”.