‘No officials sent, no response given’: China snubs security meeting in South Korea amid missile shield row
No representatives from China’s defence ministry attend this year’s Seoul Defence Dialogue as Beijing gives South Korea the cold shoulder
China has shunned a security dialogue in Seoul amid a row over South Korea’s decision to host a US missile defence system.
Hwang Jae-ho, an adviser for the Seoul Defence Dialogue, said the Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) system could be the reason China did not send officials to the event which ends on Friday.
Beijing objects to the deployment of the anti-missile system saying its radar would allow the United States to peer deep into China’s backyard. Seoul and Washington argue the system is needed to counter security threats posed by North Korea.
Although several mainland researchers are attending the forum, the lack of participation by Chinese officials signalled Beijing would maintain a hard line over the issue, Hwang said. China has taken part in the dialogue since 2014, joining defence officials from dozens of countries and organisations to discuss regional security. This round of talks covers North Korea’s ballistic missile launches as well as maritime disputes involving the US, China and Japan.
The Chinese defence ministry usually replies to the invitation a few days before the talks begin, but no response has been given to South Korea.
