Anti-Korea sentiment growing in China due to THAAD

Jul 11, 2016, 08:00 am

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By Hong Soon-do, Beijing correspondent, AsiaToday - It seems China is strongly dissatisfied with the THAAD deployment in South Korea. While South Korean government believes it could ask China for understanding and persuade its unavoidable circumstances based on the good bilateral relations, the reality is actually going the opposite. Besides, it has been revealed that the highest level officials of the Chinese government are even considering military action. It seems the bilateral relationship may end up collapsing.


Such assertion is not an exaggeration considering China's rising discomfort over the THAAD deployment. Most of all, the Chinese view of South Korea is worsening rapidly. Some of vigorous nationalists insisted on powerful revenge, stating, "Korean are betrayers! They stabbed us in the back." Of course, the anti-Korea sentiment is spreading rapidly online.


Missiles of the Second Artillery Corps, the missile forces of China. In the worst case, they may be used to contain THAAD./ Source: Xinhua News Agency


Chinese authorities are unlikely to keeping a level head. When Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi recently made his official visit to Colombo in Sri Lanka, he made incredibly strong statements to the reporters. According to the July 10th report of leading Beijing newspaper Beijing Times, the minister clearly stated the state's stance, stating, "We hope friends of South Korea will think calmly that whether the THAAD system is conducive to their national security, to the peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, and to the solution of the nuclear issue of the peninsula." His statement sounds like if the THAAD deployment is not cancelled, China won't cooperate to the peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, and to the solution of the nuclear issue of the peninsula. What's important is that the minister called Korea as 'friends'. The overall nuance is not positive at all.


Media is also taking a firm stand. One of the good examples is Global Times, a Chinese newspaper under the People's Daily which is famous for its firm tone. It claimed, "China must take revenge. There are thousands of methods." One of their way to revenge is expelling Korea Embassy officials, press correspondents, and sojourning employees of Korean conglomerates. It may also impose economic retaliation. This is why there is criticism over the Korean government among Korean company officials and Korean residents in China.



#Anti-Korea sentiment #THAAD deployment #South Korea #China #Wang Yi 
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