With the Republic of Korea (ROK) continuing to stress the need to deploy the Terminal High Altitude Air Defense (THAAD) system on its territory, Seoul has been tied to Washington's chariot.
The ROK has become the outpost of the United States missile defense system. Apparently, the ROK has been dangerously coerced by the United States. The ROK media have been quite clear about this.
According to a commentary carried by The Hankyoreh, deploying THAAD on the Korean Peninsula is part of the United States' Asia-Pacific rebalancing strategy. However, the commentary said, THAAD will worsen the peninsula's security environment, as it will break the military balance of the region.
A wedge placed by the United States in the Northeast Asia, THAAD not only contributes nothing to the Korean Peninsula's denuclearization, but will also create new contradictions that lead to further deterioration of the peninsula.
The move will bring a series of political, economic, security, environmental and social risks to the ROK. If conflict were to break out, the ROK would be the first to be affected and the country would be fundamentally changed, with the ROK people paying the price. Can the ROK government afford the price?
It is clear that ROK's real protection is neither THAAD nor the United States far away. The country's amulet is its grasp of the overall international situation and a clear-headed sense of reality.
It is known to all that peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula is a systematic process full of difficulties. However, adding fuel to the flames is foolish and irresponsible. Let us remind the ROK about China's irreplaceable role when the Korean Peninsula was in crisis as well as China's push to resume the six-party talks.
Recent years have seen the rapid development of Sino-ROK relations, frequent high-level exchanges and the deepening of the strategic partnership between the two countries.
China has been the ROK's biggest trade partner, export destination and source of imports. The Free Trade Agreement has shown progress, and friendly civilian exchanges have brought tangible benefits to both peoples. In spite of all the achievements, bilateral relations need care from both sides.
From Afghanistan and Iraq to Libya, the United States has been using "agents" to consolidate its hegemony and upset a region before quitting.
Considering these facts, the ROK should stop playing with fire in order to avoid being the victim of its own evil deeds, and should stop serving as the errand boy of the United States. Its decision makers should remain sober-minded and take into account the ROK's long-term interests and the wellbeing of its people.
