China shuns Seoul security dialogue amid missile defence row

BEIJING – China is shunning a security dialogue in Seoul amid an ongoing row over South Korea’s decision to deploy a powerful U.S. missile defence system.

The official newspaper Global Times on Thursday quoted an unidentified Defence Ministry spokesman as saying China was not sending a delegation to this week’s Seoul Defence Dialogue because of “reasons of work arrangement.” It offered no other details.

China has angrily denounced plans for the deployment of the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defence, or THAAD system, whose radars it says will allow the U.S. military to peer deep into northeastern China. Seoul and Washington say the system is intended solely to defend against North Korea’s missile threat.

China elevated the issue on Monday, with President Xi Jinping expressing China’s opposition directly in a meeting with his South Korean counterpart Park Geun-hye. Xi said that “mishandling the issue is not conducive to strategic stability in the region, and could intensify disputes.”

Beijing’s reaction has also stoked public outrage, threatening everything from tourism exchanges to appearances by K-pop stars in China.