China Works to Block U.S. Missile Defense Deployment

[Valin]

Washington Free Beacon:

Offers financial incentives to Seoul

Bill Gertz

March 9, 2015

 

SEOUL—China is engaged in an international influence campaign to block South Korea from joining U.S.-led regional missile defenses, according to current and former U.S. officials.

 

President Xi Jinping of China, as part of the operation, directly appealed to President Park Geun-hye of South Korea not to allow U.S. military forces to go ahead with plans to deploy the Army’s Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD, a highly effective anti-missile system capable of knocking out both North Korean and some Chinese missiles, said the officials.

 

As leverage, the hardline Chinese leader is offering Seoul increased trade and business if THAAD deployment is scuttled.

 

Additionally, Beijing is pressuring the Park administration to allow China’s controversial Huawei Technologies to bid on telecommunications infrastructure projects in South Korea.

 

Huawei has been linked by the U.S. government to espionage plots conducted through its network equipment. The company has been blocked several times from merging with U.S. companies over the cybersecurity concerns. Xi wants Huawei to be allowed to bid on major contracts in South Korea.

 

(Snip)