THAAD and AIIB, the Decision is Korea’s to make

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Controversies surrounding the installation of THAAD(Terminal High Altitude Area Defense missile) and joining AIIB(Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank) are flaring up. THAAD is the defense system which shoots down intercontinental ballistic missile at its terminal stage. AIIB is the financial institution which China suggests to stand up to World Bank and Asian Development Bank which are mostly leaded by America and Japan. The controversies are whether Korea should install THAAD, and whether it should join the AIIB. The common point of these two issues is that America and China are in strong confrontation.

First, for THAAD, America wants to install it in Korea but China desperately opposes it. Although America states THAAD is needed in order to response to North Korea, its actual purpose is to monitor and press China. If Korea mounts THAAD, it is possible to observe China by its X-band radar, which can detect 4800km at maximum. This is why China dissents from mounting THAAD. Liu JianchaoChinese ambassador officially said “Please regard China’s concern and attention as important.” when he visited South Korea at March 16th.

AIIB is another problem among Korea, China, and America. Since AIIB’s purpose is to stand against America’s monopoly on financial market, joining it can be annoying to America. However, the majority of pro-American countries have already shown the intention of joining AIIB. For example, England, Germany, and Italy are going to join it. Therefore, some experts cited that joining it is not such a sensitive issue to America.

It is obvious that THAAD and AIIB are crucial diplomatic matters to Korea, and China and America are deeply related to them. However, the most important thing is that the main body of the decision should not be China or America but South Korea. Any other countries should not take part in its domestic affairs. As a result, South Korea needs to put its domestic interest first and consider these issues independently. South Korea’s diplomatic power needs to play an important role.