Protesters from South Korea oppose the THAAD. (Photo : Getty Images)
South Korea intends to launch an America missile defense system. In response, China has called for a boycott of products from South Korea.
China-Korea ties are in jeopardy because South Korea and the U.S. are in talks to proceed with the launch of the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense System or THAAD. The foreign ministry of South Korea made the announcement recently.
There are no dates for the actual deployment, but the White House said that deployment should be done as soon possible. Experts said that the comment from the U.S. will enable fast and easy weapons deployment.
China has objected strongly to the THAAD. General Luo, a Chinese military general, said that China will retaliate if pushed to the corner.
He said, "We could conduct a surgical hard-kill operation that would destroy the target, paralyzing it and making it unable to hit back."
"Since the United States, Japan, and South Korea choose not to respect China's major security concerns, China does not need to be a gentleman on everything. We must not undermine our own security interests while respecting the security interests of others," he added.
China has tried to convince North Korea to stop weapons deployment, but it seems like North Korea is not willing to compromise.
Dingding Chen, professor of International Relations at Jinan University, believes that in the end, China will take North Korea's side.
"China will be pushed toward embracing North Korea again because it might feel cornered by the United States and South Korea, and thus a potential Asian-style Cold War might emerge," he wrote.
The expert said that China needs to realize that they need South Korea to maintain stability in Southeast Asia. He said that "South Korea relies on China's market and materials for its own sustainable economic development, and China needs South Korea to stabilize the Northeast Asian situation."
Whether China remains neutral or takes sides, experts believe that it will be a loss all around.
A professor from Renmin University said, "One thing after another is happening. Not good things--all bad things."
