China says South Korea abused mutual trust with THAAD deployment deal
China has accused South Korea of abusing mutual trust between both countries by ignoring opposition and going ahead with the deployment of an advanced missile system on its soil.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi made the remark ahead of a meeting with his South Korean counterpart, Yun Byung-se, during a regional security conference on Sunday.
"The recent behavior from South Korea has undermined the foundation for our bilateral trust," said Wang via an interpreter.
After voicing his country’s displeasure over the joint decision by the US and South Korea to deploy the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile system, he further noted that his country is waiting to see “what kind of practical actions” will be made by Seoul to mend relations between the two countries.
THAAD has been designed to intercept ballistic missiles inside or just outside the atmosphere during their final phase of flight.
On Thursday, thousands of people rallied in Seoul against the recent decision by the government to allow the deployment of the advanced US missile system in South Korea.
South Korean President Park Geun-hye earlier declared the implementation of the plan as “inevitable,” citing a sense of urgency to ramp up missile defense capabilities against the North.
The decision to have the system deployed, which was announced on July 8, has been met with opposition both in South Korea as well as outside the country.
China, which shares a border with North Korea, has been voicing its opposition to the deployment of the system for months, warning that it would destabilize regional security.
According to the South Korean Defense Ministry, the US missile system will be deployed in the southeastern county of Seongju, located 296 kilometers southeast of the capital, to maximize its effectiveness while minimizing any impact on residents and the environment. The ministry has also said it aims to have the system operational by the end of 2017.
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