Tuesday, February 7th., 2017
China opposes deployment of U.S. stealth ship in
South Korea
China opposes deployment of U.S. stealth ship in
South Korea
By Elizabeth Shim
| Feb. 7, 2017 at 9:52 AM
| Feb. 7, 2017 at 9:52 AM 
China says it is “watching closely” U.S. plans to deploy the USS
Zumwalt,
a multi-mission stealth ship, near the Korean peninsula. Image courtesy
of U.S. Navy
a multi-mission stealth ship, near the Korean peninsula. Image courtesy
of U.S. Navy
Feb. 7 (UPI) -- China voiced its
opposition to a U.S. proposal to deploy the
USS Zumwalt in the waters surrounding the Korean peninsula, a development
that Beijing says it is "watching closely."
Foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said on Tuesday "all countries concerned
should work toward military cooperation for the sake of peace and stability,
and tensions should not be created."
Lu added China is opposed to any measures that affect China's security interests,
South Korean news agency Yonhap reported.
In January, Adm. Harry B. Harris, Jr., commander of the U.S. Pacific Command,
proposed deploying the United States' largest missile destroyer near Korea's
southernmost Jeju Island.
The $4 billion USS Zumwalt is a multi-mission stealth ship with a displacement
of about 15,000 tons.
The destroyer is capable of firing the SM-1, SM-2 and SM-6 missiles and can
be equipped with a railgun or free-electron lasers.
China has been flexing its military muscle in recent weeks near areas close to
the Korean peninsula.
On Jan. 9, Chinese H-6 bombers flew over the waterways of the Korea Strait
and entered the East Sea.
Analysts have speculated the deployment was a response to Seoul's decision to
deploy the U.S. missile defense system THAAD and Japan's defense of the |
Senkaku Islands, also claimed by China.
On Jan. 22 China commissioned its fifth Type 052D Luyang III-class destroyer
into the North Sea Fleet, which maintains a presence in the Yellow Sea,
adjacent to Korea.
On Tuesday, Chinese state tabloid Global Times issued an editorial expressing
opposition to increased coordination between the United States and Japan.
The editorial claimed the United States and Japan tested the SM-3 Block IIA missile
to build a system of missile defense, not to deter North Korea but deter Beijing and
Moscow.
"China and Russia can maintain their current strategic balance if they take decisive
action to stop U.S. pursuit of the missile defense system," the editorial read.
USS Zumwalt in the waters surrounding the Korean peninsula, a development
that Beijing says it is "watching closely."
Foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said on Tuesday "all countries concerned
should work toward military cooperation for the sake of peace and stability,
and tensions should not be created."
Lu added China is opposed to any measures that affect China's security interests,
South Korean news agency Yonhap reported.
In January, Adm. Harry B. Harris, Jr., commander of the U.S. Pacific Command,
proposed deploying the United States' largest missile destroyer near Korea's
southernmost Jeju Island.
The $4 billion USS Zumwalt is a multi-mission stealth ship with a displacement
of about 15,000 tons.
The destroyer is capable of firing the SM-1, SM-2 and SM-6 missiles and can
be equipped with a railgun or free-electron lasers.
China has been flexing its military muscle in recent weeks near areas close to
the Korean peninsula.
On Jan. 9, Chinese H-6 bombers flew over the waterways of the Korea Strait
and entered the East Sea.
Analysts have speculated the deployment was a response to Seoul's decision to
deploy the U.S. missile defense system THAAD and Japan's defense of the |
Senkaku Islands, also claimed by China.
On Jan. 22 China commissioned its fifth Type 052D Luyang III-class destroyer
into the North Sea Fleet, which maintains a presence in the Yellow Sea,
adjacent to Korea.
On Tuesday, Chinese state tabloid Global Times issued an editorial expressing
opposition to increased coordination between the United States and Japan.
The editorial claimed the United States and Japan tested the SM-3 Block IIA missile
to build a system of missile defense, not to deter North Korea but deter Beijing and
Moscow.
"China and Russia can maintain their current strategic balance if they take decisive
action to stop U.S. pursuit of the missile defense system," the editorial read.