China opposes deployment of THAAD missile defence system in S Korea

China unequivocally opposes the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD), an advanced US missile defence system, in South Korea, vice foreign minister Zhang Yesui said on Tuesday.

Zhang said this on the sidelines of the seventh high-level strategic dialogue between the foreign affairs ministries of China and South Korea, Xinhua reported.

Zhang said the current situation on the Korean peninsula was both extremely complicated and extremely sensitive. China has always steadfastly sticked to the denuclearisation of the peninsula and tried to maintain peace and stability on the peninsula, always having been committed to solving the issue through dialogue and negotiation.

China supports efforts at the UN Security Council to agree on a new and forceful resolution as soon as possible, he said.  “Sanctions are not an end in themselves,” 

Zhang said. “We still would have to find a fundamental solution through dialogue and talks.”