A Chinese expert said that the deployment of THAAD system is not doing good to settling the Korean Peninsula tensions, but instead will trigger an armament race in the Asia-Pacific.
One of the world's most advanced missile defense systems, the U.S. THAAD can intercept and destroy ballistic missiles inside or just outside the Earth's atmosphere.
Now South Korea allows the U.S. to deploy it at the U.S. military base there, a decision made following the DPRK's rocket launch on Feb. 7th.
Chinese expert Yang Xiyu says technically speaking, THAAD will not protect South Korea. This is because it will only work against middle and long-range ballistic missiles, but not those short-range ones that are threatening Seoul from its northern neigbor.
"The THAAD system's radar cope reaches 2,000 kilometers, which is far broader than the 300 kilometer area of South Korea,"
"If it's deployed, its surveillance could reach Russia's Far East and Siberia regions, and most parts of east China. It's clear that it's targeting China and Russia," said Yang Xiyu, researcher of China Institute of Int'l Studies.
Yang warns that the possible deployment would force China with two options, both of which will not benefit any party.
"One option for China is to improve its missile striking and penetration capability. The other is to build its own anti-missile system. Each of the two options will stimulate the armament race in the region,"
"So we are calling on relevant parties to carefully consider this decision that will bring negative implications. Come back to settle the root of the DPRK's missile threat, but not create new problems,"
"The THAAD system's radar cope reaches 2,000 kilometers, which is far broader than the 300 kilometer area of South Korea,"
"If it's deployed, its surveillance could reach Russia's Far East and Siberia regions, and most parts of east China. It's clear that it's targeting China and Russia," said Yang Xiyu.
