According to the statement, Moscow and Beijing urge all those involved in the system\u2019s deployment to consider the escalation in tensions it would lead to, and to exercise restraint. But the two also reaffirm their commitment to a nuclear-free North Korea, and believe diplomacy should be the way forward.
The statement comes shortly after a Thursday meeting co-chaired by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov and Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Kong Xuanyou.
The Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system is to be deployed on a golf course in South Korea, prompting worries from Russia and China about their security being compromised by the anti-missile system\u2019s powerful radar.
One of the concerns the two have with the US system is its radar\u2019s ability to peer into Russian and Chinese territory.
The decision to deploy was first announced in July, promising a system by the end of the year. This led to strong opposition from Russia and China, as well as a 100,000-strong petition by American activists urging the US to reconsider. Reassuring people that the system would \u201cnot undermine China\u2019s or Russia\u2019s strategic deterrent,\u201d the Obama administration shot the petition down.
The thinking over the summer was that the North Korean threat to its southern neighbor must be kept in check. Pyongyang\u2019s rising number of ICBM tests and its escalating rhetoric against Seoul contributed to this. Brushing aside criticism by China and Russia, Washington said that its hardware in Korea will be focused \u201csolely\u201d on countering the North Korean nuclear and ballistic missile threat.
Less than a week ago, Seoul reaffirmed its commitment to deploying THAAD, leading to another chorus of protest from Beijing, which complained that it \u201crepeatedly expressed\u201d its concerns, and that the system was \u201cno good to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.\u201d
\u201cWe also hope that a proper solution that accommodates each other\u2019s concerns can be found through communication and consultation between China and the ROK,\u201d Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang also told journalists at the briefing.
Seoul responded almost immediately by saying that THAAD deployment is \u201ca sovereign and self-defensive measure.\u201d
South Korea has also complained about China taking what it sees as \u201cretaliatory measures\u201d over the decision to deploy. These included a partial ban on Korean TV, as well as some pop artists. The automotive industry was also targeted, and an investigation was launched into Korean retail giant Lotte, which does business in China.
Once again this Thursday, South Korea warned that it may complain to China over the effect its indirect response to THAAD has had: \u201cWe plan to present the relation between China\u2019s actions that have been pointed out by our companies and the THAAD deployment during a meeting on Friday regarding the free trade agreement between South Korea and China,\u201d Trade Minister Joo Hyung-hwan told parliament.<\/p>\n