China Condemns U.S. Missile Defense Radar Deployment in South Korea

China’s Foreign Ministry issued a strong rebuke on Friday over the recent deployment of U.S. missile defense radar systems in South Korea, calling the move a “serious disruption to regional strategic stability.”

Speaking at a regular press briefing, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian stated that the U.S. decision to enhance its THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) infrastructure on the Korean Peninsula “gravely undermines the security interests of countries in the region, particularly China.”

“Beijing firmly opposes the militarization of the region under the pretext of defense,” Lin said. “Such actions will only escalate tensions and fuel a new arms race in Northeast Asia.”

Chinese officials have long expressed concern that the radar capabilities of the THAAD system, which are capable of monitoring deep into Chinese territory, represent a threat to national security and strategic deterrence. Calls were made for Washington to immediately halt further deployment and consult with regional powers to avoid destabilizing consequences.

The U.S. has maintained that the radar systems are purely defensive and aimed at countering missile threats from North Korea. However, Beijing insists that their presence upsets the strategic balance and complicates ongoing diplomatic efforts on the Korean Peninsula.