Chinese State Media Claims Resumption of ROK-US Joint Exercises Only Undermines Korean Peninsula Security

US harshly criticizes as training to maintain American hegemony and global leadership
North Korea will not trade nuclear weapons for economic benefits... will continue nuclear armament

[Asia Economy Senior Reporter Jo Young-shin] China's state-run media claimed that the 'South Korea-US joint military exercises (UFSㆍEulji Freedom Shield)' have resumed and argued that the joint exercises would undermine security in the Hanbin-do region.

While drawing a line on the South Korea-US joint exercises and the Taiwan Strait issue, it fiercely criticized the United States, accusing it of revealing intentions to strengthen its military power in the Asia-Pacific region.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 23rd, Global Times reported in an article titled "US Resumes Military Exercises with South Korea, Efforts to Stir Regional Turmoil" that South Korea and the US are conducting large-scale military exercises until the 1st of next month to send a strong deterrent message to North Korea.

The media outlet also stated that this exercise involves a large number of troops and is essentially a full-scale war concept military exercise.

Global Times cited military experts, defining the nature of the joint exercises as emphasizing that the US's role is indispensable for regional security.

It also pointed out that the exercise is more about maintaining US hegemony and global leadership than the security of the Korean Peninsula.

Wei Dongxu, a Beijing military expert, told Global Times, "The US resumed the exercises to demonstrate large-scale military operational capabilities in the Asia-Pacific region," and claimed that this exercise is provocative and offensive, going beyond a defensive nature.

The media cited reports from US outlets such as The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal, stating that the exercises, resumed after five years, would provoke North Korea.

Yang Xiwei, a senior researcher at the China Institute of International Studies, said, "This joint exercise will have a counterproductive effect on the situation on the Korean Peninsula," adding, "North Korea will not trade its national security issue of nuclear weapons for economic benefits." He predicted that North Korea, feeling threatened, would continue its nuclear armament.

Global Times also mentioned the '2022 Pitch Black Exercise,' held until the 7th of next month, and criticized the US again. It claimed that the US is rallying South Korea, Japan, and NATO member countries to the Western Pacific, arguing that this is to pressure China over the Taiwan Strait issue.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.