Page 83 - Trilateral Korea Japan U.S. Cooperation

into North Korea. Despite Chinese rhetoric, THAAD is a
defensive weapon, and its radars are only capable of detecting
missile launches and tracking missiles inbound to South
Korea for high level interception. However, China influenced
the opposition within South Korea and conducted extensive
economic warfare against Korean businesses. 12

Despite denials, in 2017 President Xi coerced then-President
Moon into accepting the “Three No’s.” While it appeared to
be a compromise, the South agreed to no additional THAAD
13
deployment. And to ensure there would be no additional
deployment the local population continues to protest and
14
restrict movement around the THAAD location.

However, the two additional No’s.” reveal Chinese fears.
The second “No” was no integrated missile defense. China
does not want South Korea, the U.S., and Japan to integrate
their air and missile defense systems which would allow the
coordination and synchronization of detection, targeting,
queuing, and destruction of missile threats to all three
countries. By integrating the systems, gaps and seams in
coverage are reduced and the right weapon from each country
is deployed against the right threat. The missile defense of all

12 Editor: Yamei, “Spotlight: S. Korean civic groups moving to oppose THAAD deployment,” March 4. 2017,
http://www.xinhuanet.com//english/2017-04/03/c_136180546.htm
13 Ankit Panda, “China and South Korea: Examining the Resolution of the THAAD Impasse,” The Diplomat,
November 13, 2017, https://thediplomat.com/2017/11/china-and-south-korea-examining-the-resolution-
of-the-thaad-impasse/
14 Son So-Hee and Dongmin Yang, “’Get Out Yankee’: A South Korean Village’s Fight Against The US Military,”
The Real News Network, March 8, 2024, https://therealnews.com/south-korea-soseongri-thaad-us-military-
protests

82 Section I : North Korea-China Relations: How and Why Does Beijing Protect and Empower Pyongyang?