China’s state-run media claimed that the U.S.-Korea joint exercise, “Eulji Freedom Shield (UFS), is a U.S. strategy to deter China, as well as heightening tensions in the Asia-Pacific region.” Prior to the ROK-U.S. drills, China expanded its military exercises in the Taiwan Strait to the Shandong Peninsula, which is geographically close to the Korean Peninsula, and the West Sea near Bohai Bay. As the conflict between the US and China intensifies, it is becoming clear that not only North Korea but also China are directly conducting or criticizing the ROK-US joint exercise.
China’s English newspaper Global Times reported on the 22nd that “UFS is the purpose of the US to check not only North Korea but also China while showing off its military power in the Asia-Pacific region.”
The Global Times emphasized that US-China relations have rapidly cooled following US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan. It will also affect the peace and stability of the He added, “China needs to be vigilant regarding this, as the US is likely to deploy aircraft carriers and strategic bombers in this exercise.”
Chinese military expert Song Zhongping (宋忠平) asserted in an interview with the Global Times that “China will not stand by, saying that the chaos on the Korean Peninsula is also a threat to China’s security.” “This exercise will inevitably attract the attention of Japan, and the possibility that Japan will participate in future South Korea-US military exercises cannot be ruled out,” Song said.
Beijing = Correspondent Ki-yong Kim kky@donga.com
