China, Russia must join hands to counter US in Asia: Chinese state media
August 12, 2016, 4:51 am

South Korean protesters hold placards during a rally against the deployment of the advanced U.S. missile defense system on the Korean Peninsula, called Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), in front of the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, April 1, 2015 [Xinhua]

“It is only a matter of time before Japan has THAAD on its soil,” an editorial in the Global Times warned.

“Washington is ambitious to build a global anti-missile system so missile activities in China and Russia can be put under close surveillance, which will disable China and Russia’s strategic nuclear deterrence against the US,” it said.

Beijing has said Washington’s decision last month to deploy a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system would only worsen tensions on the Korean peninsula.

Both Russian and Chinese Foreign Ministers Sergey Lavrov and Wang Yi have criticised the US move.

On Friday, Beijing newspaper Global Times, known for its strident editorials, questioned why the US was deploying new anti-ballistic missile stronghold in Northeast Asia with an excuse of dealing with threats of the North Korean nuclear and missile programs.

“As THAAD is approaching its doorstep, China must speed up the upgrading of its offensive weaponry to offset the threat caused by the US global anti-missile system,” the editorial of the influential Chinese daily published by the ruling Communist Party argued on Friday.

A US-Japan-South Korea coterie linked by THAAD is forming in Asia that could threaten peace in the region, the state-run paper warned.

“China and Russia should cooperate on the joint work of developing strategic offensive weaponry, and acquire an overwhelming advantage against the US anti-missile system. Both countries can conduct military simulations, which can include strategic nuclear weapons, against THAAD,” it added.

Editorials of state-owned media in China, like Global Times, generally reflect the Communist Party viewpoint.

After a UN Security Council meeting last week, US envoy to the UN, Samantha Power, rejected suggestions the decision to deploy the anti-missile defence system in South Korea had provoked ballistic missile tests by North Korea.

China and Russia have increased their security, economic and diplomatic relationship in recent years.

Even as the US continues with what it calls “freedom of navigation” exercises in the South China Sea, China has got support from Moscow on the dispute.

Attempts to internationalize the issue must be stopped, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said repeatedly in the last few weeks.

“I am convinced that they (attempts to internationalize the issue) are completely counterproductive,” said Lavrov. “Only negotiations, which China and the ASEAN are pursuing can bring the desired result, namely, mutually acceptable agreements.”

TBP