China released its defense white paper on Wednesday detailing its defense goals and views on various issues in Northeast Asia... including the deployment of the THAAD anti-missile defense system on the Korean Peninsula.
Lee Min-sun reports. The 10th edition of Chinese defense white paper, released on Wednesday under the title 'China's National Defense in the New Era', gives a detailed explanation of China's efforts to build a strong military force in response to other actors in the region.
While touching upon various ongoing issues in the Asia-Pacific region... the white paper brought up the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system or THAAD deployed in South Korea by the U.S.
It claims the U.S. has severely undermined the regional strategic balance and the strategic interest of the region … and especially the interests of Beijing.
China also said it is increasing military cooperation with Russia in response to the United States' strengthening of its military alliances in the region.
And it said the recent air patrol of strategic bombers that entered Korea's air defense identification zone was part of that military cooperation with Russia.


"The joint patrol was aimed at deepening and developing the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership in the new era and further increasing the level of strategic coordination and joint operational capacity of the two militaries of China and Russia, so as to jointly safeguard global strategic stability."

On top of the ongoing trade dispute between the U.S. and China, the recent moves could be a sign of possible military and diplomatic friction in the Asia-Pacific region...which will raise instability on the Korean Peninsula.
Lee Min-sun Arirang News.