China: US to ‘must act cautiously’ on missile defense deployment in S. Korea
As the United States is considering to deploy advance missile defense system following DPRK’s recent nuclear and satellite launch, China is urging that it needs to proceed with caution, and the US should not use this as an excuse to affect China's security, the Chinese foreign minister said.
Speaking to US Secretary of State John Kerry in Germany on Friday on the sidelines of Munich Security Conference, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi expressed Beijing's opposition to the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system.
Speaking to US Secretary of State John Kerry in Germany on Friday on the sidelines of Munich Security Conference, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi expressed Beijing's opposition to the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system.
US Secretary of State John Kerry and China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi chat before a bilateral meeting in Munich, Germany, February 12, 2016.
Wang demanded the US side “must act cautiously, not use the opportunity to harm China's security interests and not add a new complicating factor to regional peace and stability.”
Wang said there’s a huge question behind the THAAD deployment and that it is likely to harm the national and security interests of countries in the region, including China.
Speaking of DPRK’s recent military moves, Wang said it was time for a "strong" resolution covering a wide range of areas.
"(We) support the United Nations Security Council to take further steps and in adopting a new resolution so that the DPRK will pay the necessary price and show there are consequences for its behavior," the minister said.
Wang said there’s a huge question behind the THAAD deployment and that it is likely to harm the national and security interests of countries in the region, including China.
Speaking of DPRK’s recent military moves, Wang said it was time for a "strong" resolution covering a wide range of areas.
"(We) support the United Nations Security Council to take further steps and in adopting a new resolution so that the DPRK will pay the necessary price and show there are consequences for its behavior," the minister said.
Wang Yi told Reuters at an interview in Munich that it was time for a "strong" resolution covering a wide range of areas.
When asked whether Beijing was ready to support stronger economic sanctions, Wang said the resolution would be wide-ranging, but its objective should be to curb Pyongyang's efforts to develop nuclear and missile technologies.
After DPRK’s hydrogen bomb test in January and its latest satellite launch, the country has faced stern international condemnation.
The US Senate on Wednesday unanimously passed a bill to impose harsher sanctions and Japan has put a ban on ships from third countries that have visited ports in the DPRK. It has also restricted remittances over 100,000 yen (about 870 US dollars) to the DPRK in principle, except for humanitarian cases.
Earlier this week, South Korea also announced that it is shutting the jointly-run Kaesong Industrial Complex. The complex within DPRK has 124 companies and employs around 54,000 DPRK nationals.
After DPRK’s hydrogen bomb test in January and its latest satellite launch, the country has faced stern international condemnation.
The US Senate on Wednesday unanimously passed a bill to impose harsher sanctions and Japan has put a ban on ships from third countries that have visited ports in the DPRK. It has also restricted remittances over 100,000 yen (about 870 US dollars) to the DPRK in principle, except for humanitarian cases.
Earlier this week, South Korea also announced that it is shutting the jointly-run Kaesong Industrial Complex. The complex within DPRK has 124 companies and employs around 54,000 DPRK nationals.
DPRK launched a long-range rocket on Feb. 6 carrying what it called a satellite.
DPRK's leader Kim Jong-un.
Pyongyang calls Seoul’s actions as “a declaration of an end to the last lifeline of North-South relations … driving the situation on the Korean Peninsula to the brink of war.”
Amid escalating tensions, the Chinese Foreign Ministry has called on all sides to “remain calm, act cautiously and make join efforts to safeguard regional peace and stability.”
In Munich, Wang reiterated that the DPRK issues should be addressed through dialogue.
"Sanctions are not the end, the purpose should be to make sure that the nuclear issue in the Korean Peninsula should be brought back to the channel of a negotiation-based resolution," he said.
Amid escalating tensions, the Chinese Foreign Ministry has called on all sides to “remain calm, act cautiously and make join efforts to safeguard regional peace and stability.”
In Munich, Wang reiterated that the DPRK issues should be addressed through dialogue.
"Sanctions are not the end, the purpose should be to make sure that the nuclear issue in the Korean Peninsula should be brought back to the channel of a negotiation-based resolution," he said.
