[차이나워치] Chinese media “THAAD should not become an obstacle between the two countries again”

[앵커]

After the South Korea-China foreign ministers’ meeting, the THAAD issue has once again become a source of conflict between the two countries.

China claimed through official media that THAAD became a landmine buried between South Korea and China, and that it was intended by the United States.

Let’s connect Beijing.

Correspondent Lim Kwang-bin.

[기자]

Yes, this is Beijing.

[앵커]

What is the content of the Chinese media’s claims?

[기자]

According to a report by the Global Times, the official media outlet for the Chinese authorities, that the US deployment of THAAD is intended to force South Korea to choose between the US and China.

As a result, he claimed that the THAAD issue remained unresolved and became a landmine buried between China and South Korea.

Citing experts, the newspaper emphasized that the THAAD issue should not become an obstacle to bilateral relations again.

Luo Chao, a researcher at the Liaoning Provincial Academy of Social Sciences, said it would still be difficult to fundamentally solve the THAAD issue, but the two governments have been actively managing the risk so that the issue does not become a fuse that sparks a crisis in South Korea-China relations or regional tensions.

“Experts say South Korea should not sacrifice its interests for the United States,” the newspaper added.

[앵커]

In the midst of this, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi issued a message in response to Minister Park Jin’s discussion of the principle of ‘Haifu-dong’ as a principle of diplomacy with China?

[기자]

‘Hwayibudong’ means ‘harmony, but not the same’, and is an expression quoted by Foreign Minister Park Jin at the Korea-China Foreign Ministers’ Meeting held in Qingdao, China on the 9th.

In response to this, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi responded in an interview with Chinese media yesterday (11th), saying, “Huai-dong is the friendship of a gentleman.”

“The harmony realized on the basis of respecting each other’s differences is stronger and lasting, stronger and warmer,” he added.

Accordingly, interest is focused on whether it will replace the words ‘drive zone’ and ‘pursue unity but keep differences’, which have been commonly used in Korea-China relations.

However, there is also an interpretation that by responding to the word ‘Haifu-dong’, it emphasized what China was trying to say.

Irrespective of our intentions, it is analyzed that China positively evaluated Huai-dong in the context of wanting to have its security interests respected in the strategic competition between the US and China.

In line with the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Korea and China, Director Wang emphasized the meaning of ’30-year-old’, which means ‘when you turn 30 you will become independent and form a family in your field’.

There are also evaluations that it implies that Korea expects to break away from the influence of the United States and pursue an independent foreign policy toward China.

[앵커]

China has conducted large-scale military exercises in the Taiwan Strait since the 4th.

Are you saying that even after the declaration of the end of the training on the 10th, the armed protests are continuing?

[기자]

China, in protest against US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan, has conducted large-scale military exercises in the Taiwan Strait since the 4th.

The originally announced training period was four days from noon on the 4th to noon on the 7th.

It has been shown that training continues even after announcing the end of training for the past 10 days beyond the predicted period.

The People’s Liberation Army Eastern District in charge of Taiwan announced on the 10th that it would complete joint military exercises around Taiwan.

However, regular patrols in the Taiwan Strait have been announced.

“The Eastern Region will closely monitor changes in the situation in the Taiwan Strait, continue combat training and preparations, and organize combat reconnaissance in the direction of the Taiwan Strait to resolutely safeguard the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country.”

Although he would normally do low-intensity training, he expressed his will to carry out military operations with an invasion of Taiwan in mind whenever tensions escalate in relations with Taiwan and the United States.

In fact, yesterday, the day after the declaration of the end of the training, the Chinese military crossed the midline of the Taiwan Strait and predicted that it would become a daily routine in the future.

Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense announced on its website last night (11th) that 21 military aircraft and 6 warships were active around Taiwan, and a total of 11 fighters crossed the midline of the Taiwan Strait and returned.

Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen encouraged the Air Force’s operational command to visit, saying the level of China’s armed threat had not been lowered.

“It is the mission of the ROK military to prepare for war but not pursue it, and to fight against it and not avoid it when it comes to war,” he said.

[앵커]

Before Chairman Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan, there was a phone call between the leaders of the United States and China.

At that time, Chinese President Xi Jinping told U.S. President Biden that he had no intention of going to war?

[기자]

This was reported by the Wall Street Journal.

In a phone call with President Biden on the 28th of last month, President Xi Jinping reported that he had stated from the beginning that “China has no intention of moving forward”.

The phone call was made four days before Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan.

At the time, President Xi had warned President Biden that Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan would have unpredictable consequences.

At the same time, however, the statement “I have no intention of going to war” meant that both the US and China emphasized the need to maintain peace and stability.

However, in the end, Chairman Pelosi visited Taiwan, and China responded with military exercises to contain Taiwan.

Fortunately, it did not lead to a direct conflict, but through the Taiwan White Paper, China once again expressed its will to reunify with Taiwan, and to this end, it also expressed its will not to rule out the use of force.

However, the observation that there will be no further escalation of tension is gaining strength as President Xi is approaching the 20th Party Congress to decide whether he will remain in power for a long time.

[앵커]

Finally, let’s take a look at China’s Corona situation.

Are you saying that the number of corona infections is increasing again recently?

[기자]

The number of new infections announced this morning by the Chinese quarantine authorities stood at 1,851, including 1,203 asymptomatic.

Only 1,209 people were confirmed in Hainan, the most popular tourist destination in China.

As of yesterday, the total cumulative number of infections was 4.978, of which 20% increased in just one day yesterday.

Since the first confirmed case on the 1st of this month, the number of new infections per day has been on the rise.

Sanya and other major cities in Hainan Province have entered into lockdown measures, including prohibiting residents from going out on the 6th.

An estimated 80,000 tourists have already been stranded for six days.

Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, another famous tourist destination in China, is also in an emergency as the coronavirus spreads.

Urumqi, the central city of Xinjiang Autonomous Region, has been locked down since Wednesday the 10th.

As famous tourist destinations are closed one after another, the atmosphere of refraining from traveling to other areas such as travel or business trips within China is spreading again.

In the midst of this, Yiwu, Zhejiang Province, one of the world’s leading cities for general goods, also started a blitz from yesterday.

If the lockdown is prolonged, there are concerns that the global grocery supply chain will also be disrupted.

Concerns are growing that the lockdown in Shanghai, which has lasted for about two months since April, may be repeated.

So far, it has been delivered from Beijing.

#Korea-China foreign minister #THAAD #30th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Korea and China #Hwayi floating #New infected person

Yonhap News TV Article Inquiries and Reports: KakaoTalk/Line jebo23

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