The Heat: China’s response to THAAD deployment

The Heat

A Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) interceptor is launched during a successful intercept test, in this undated handout photo provided by the U.S. Department of Defense, Missile Defense Agency. REUTERS/U.S. Department of Defense, Missile Defense Agency/Handout via Reuters

China reiterated its disappointment, after a land swap deal. The agreement gave the Republic of Korea the land it needs to deploy a Terminal High Altitude Defense System, known as THAAD.

The Republic of Korea has acquired a parcel of land from the Lotte Group for the deployment of a U.S. missile-defense system on the Korean Peninsula.

That system developed by the United States is designed to shoot down the short and medium-range ballistic missiles such as those under development by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

South Korea maintains THAAD is a defensive system against threats from the DPRK and isn’t meant to undermine the security of any other country.

China held bilateral talks with officials from the DPRK and Russia this week.

To discuss the recent developments and the growing tensions in the region:

  • Zhao Tong, an associate in the Nuclear Policy Program at the Carnegie-Tsinghua Center for Global Policy
  • Brian Becker, national coordinator of the ANSWER Coalition and a political analyst on DPRK relations
  • Nathan King, CGTN correspondent