China’s opposition to THAAD is still unjustifiable. China should not intervene in South Korea’s sovereign decision-making, especially when Beijing has been reluctant to clamp down on DPRK nuclear and missile programs that threaten Seoul and its allies. China’s policy toward North Korea has brought South Korea closer to deploying THAAD. Beijing also should not accuse Washington of destabilizing actions when China is developing its own strategic ballistic missile defense. While jealously protecting its own interests, Beijing seems to display disregard or unawareness of how others view the situation, an attitude also reflected in China’s stance on the South China Sea disputes. Beijing should become more aware of its own actions and how others view them before denying those countries the means to defend themselves.

Sungtae “Jacky” Park ([email protected]) is research associate at the Council on Foreign Relations.

This piece first appeared in CSIS PACNET Newsletter here.