As elements of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense “THAAD” anti-missile system, such as the launch pad and other equipment, have been shipped to South Korea, China’s sanctions against South Korea have also become more earnest. However, the United States is the initiator and the biggest promoter of “THAAD” in Korea. How to deal with the U.S.’s strategic attack on China is a more critical question. It is difficult for China to implement economic sanctions against the United States. To punish the “THAAD” producer, Lockheed Martin, is also beyond reach. If China targets the U.S. economy, China is in the strategic disadvantage in the fight. The U.S. economy is too large in scale.
Korea and the United States are completely different objects. South Korea’s economy is small and highly dependent on China. It has a big trade surplus with China. China has numerous ways to launch sanctions against Korea. Economic sanctions are always a tool a big country uses to target small countries. We will target whoever is weaker.
However, the United States is deploying the anti-missile system at China’s doorstep. It must pay the price. So how can we make the United States pay?
China’s counter measure is to let Washington feel the strong deterring power of our nuclear weapons. China only has a small number of nuclear warheads and is the only country that has declared that it will not be the first to use nuclear weapons. However, China has ample financial resources to expand its nuclear arsenal. Our more advanced strategic missiles continue to come out. The United States comes to the door of China to engage in an anti-missile game. It has broken the original strategic balance. Then China should curb the U.S. with a larger number of nuclear warheads and with strategic nuclear missiles that have a more penetrating ability. We should not only recoup the loss that “THAAD” has caused and restore the balance; but also create a new surplus of our strategic nuclear forces.
Beijing should clearly tell Washington that deploying the “THAAD” anti-missile system around China will lead to China’s increase in nuclear power. If the United States anti-missile action and strategic suppression intensifies, China may also need to reconsider the basic national policy not to be the first to use nuclear weapons.
Source: Global Times, March 9, 2017
http://opinion.huanqiu.com/editorial/2017-03/10277556.html