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South Korean protesters shout slogans during a rally against their government's military policies near the presidential house in Seoul. Photo: EPA

Why does China react so strongly over the South Korea-based anti-missile system?

China concerned about the potential threat from defence network in its backyard

Beijing has issued a rare strong rebuke to Seoul over its decision this week to restart talks with the United States over deploying a defence system designed to shoot down ballistic missiles.

Ostensibly, the Terminal High Altitude Area Defence System (THAAD) developed by the US is meant to neutralise missile threats from North Korea. But given China’s open condemnation of Pyongyang’s nuclear antics, Beijing’s strong reaction to the deployment of THAAD may look out of place.

Chinese military observers said Beijing’s response reflected concerns the system would view the PLA’s operations over the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea in greater detail and eventually further unite South Korea, Japan and the US in a defence alliance.

With radars that can reach up to 4,000km away, a THAAD system based in South Korea would severely compromise China’s controversial air defence zone.

They also warned that the system could prompt China and Russia to stockpile ballistic missiles and deploy more nuclear-powered submarines as counterbalances.

South Korea was spurred to restart the formal talks after North Korea conducted a rocket launch on Sunday, ramping up tensions in the region and underscoring the security threat posed by Seoul’s unpredictable neighbour.

China’s Foreign Ministry has voiced grave concerns about the revived talks, saying the system would not help maintain regional peace or stability, nor lead to a proper resolution of the situation. Foreign Vice-Minister Liu Zhenmin (劉振民) summoned Seoul’s envoy to China, Kim Jang-soo, and state media chimed in, insisting THAAD would “do more harm than good”.

READ MORE: Latest North Korean missile launch appears to have greater range than previous efforts, underscoring push for tougher sanctions against Pyongyang

Observers said China’s reaction to Seoul was as strong as its rebuke to Pyongyang over its launch.

Retired colonel Yue Gang said one of Beijing’s top concerns was the system would further cement the military alliance among South Korea, the US and Japan.

“After THAAD is in place in South Korea, the next step is to link up with the missile defence system in Japan. This will see South Korea gradually forming a military alliance with US and Japan, much like a mini-Nato. China is desperately trying to avoid this because the military threat then would be much more than just a ballistic missile defence system,” Yue said.

“Now it’s not whether South Korea will deploy THAAD, but rather how it will speed up the deployment’s progress.”

A US soldier stands atop a military vehicle at a training ground in Paju, South Korea, on Monday. Photo: AFP

Yue said the purpose of the system was to alter the strategic security balance in East Asia, weakening China’s military advantage.

“From then on, it won’t be a level battlefield, but a slaughter ground for the US,” Yue said. During a conflict, China and Russia would be forced to attack the system with ballistic missiles or even nuclear weapons. “South Korea would then have to pay the price for hosting a lethal security threat in its own homeland.”

READ MORE: US vows to deploy its ‘best’ weapons to Asia, Pentagon chief Carter says

Xu Guangyu (徐光裕), a senior researcher at the China Arms Control and Disarmament Association, said THAAD was intended to target China and Russia, compromising the strategic security balance in East Asia rather than countering the threat posed by North Korea.

“The X-band mobile radar that comes with the THAAD system has a range of 3,000km to 4,000km and so could cover China and Russia. This would mean all weapon drills on land and air would be exposed, and the frequency and quantity of flights as well as locations of military airports would be known,” Xu said.

Shanghai-based military analyst Ni Lexiong said the system’s powerful surveillance equipment could monitor PLA activity in the South China and East China seas, but there was another motive for the talks. “The move is designed to make China step up sanctions against North Korea to force it to give up its nuclear weapons programme,” Ni said.

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