Top Chinese Diplomat To Visit South Korea For The First Time In Five Years

South Korea’s FM Kang Kyung-wha and China’s FM Wang Yi at the G20 foreign ministers' meeting in Nagoya, Japan, November 23, 2019. © Reuters / Kim Kyung-Hoon

Reuters: Senior Chinese diplomat set for first visit to South Korea in five years amid missile defense row

SEOUL (Reuters) - A high-ranking Chinese diplomat is visiting Seoul this week for the first time in five years as the two countries seek to improve ties amid a spat over a U.S. anti-missile system in South Korea.

The Chinese government’s top diplomat, State Councillor Wang Yi, is set to arrive on Wednesday for a two-day stay, during which he will meet his counterpart, Kang Kyung-wha, and President Moon Jae-in, Seoul officials said.

South Korea sees China as instrumental in reviving stalled denuclearization talks between the United States and North Korea, a longtime ally of Beijing.

Wang’s visit will be his first since a dispute erupted over the installation of the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) system in South Korea, though he and Kang have talked on other occasions.

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Update: Top Chinese diplomat to visit S. Korea for 1st time in 5 years amid US missile defense row (RT)

WNU Editor: Chinese - South Korean relations have always been "complicated". And as for this visit .... I do not expect any serious announcements.

Leaders From China, Japan, And South Korea Will Meet In China On December 23 To 25 For A Trilateral Summit

Japan's Shinzo Abe, China's Xi Jinping and South Korea's Moon Jae-in are set to meet in the Chinese province of Sichuan. © Reuters

Nikkei Asian Review: Abe to meet Xi and Moon in China later this month

North Korea on agenda for trilateral summit; two-way talks also planned.

TOKYO -- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe plans to visit China from Dec. 23 to 25 for a trilateral summit with South Korea.

Abe unveiled the travel schedule at a meeting of the government and ruling parties on Tuesday, stating, "I hope we can candidly exchange opinions on regional issues, including how to deal with North Korea, and other matters global society faces today."

The Chinese and South Korean presidents, Xi Jinping and Moon Jae-in, are expected to join Abe for the summit in the southwestern province of Sichuan. The three leaders plan to hold separate bilateral meetings.

Talks between Japan and South Korea are likely to focus on their recent trade dispute, which is linked to a ruling by Seoul's top court ordering Japanese companies to pay reparations for their use of wartime labor. Tokyo argues the verdict runs counter to the 1965 basic treaty that stated the issue had been resolved.

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WNU Editor: The meetings will be bilateral, and North Korea, security and border tensions, and trade will be on the agenda.

Chinese Military Aircraft Are Continually Challenging South Korea's Air Defense Zone

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SCMP: Seoul voices concerns as more Chinese military aircraft spread their wings in South Korean air defence zone

South Korea has voiced its frustration about repeated intrusions into its air defence identification zone by Chinese military aircraft, moves that analysts say reflect Beijing’s opposition to strengthening ties between Seoul, Tokyo and Washington.

South Korean authorities said a Chinese plane, possibly a Shaanxi Y-9 electronic warfare and surveillance aircraft flew into the Korean zone Monday last week without notice. The plane entered near Socotra Rock in the Sea of Japan, or East Sea, at about 11am and flew out and into Japan’s air defence identification zone about 40 minutes later.

The plane re-entered the South Korean air defence zone, near the southeastern city of Pohang, at about 12.43pm. Then it travelled up to South Korea’s Exclusive Economic Zone in the Sea of Japan, cutting between the South Korean mainland and Ulleung island.

It was unusual for a Chinese aircraft to have taken that route. The plane was reported to have left the zone at 3.53pm.

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WNU Editor: Welcome to the new normal.

China Wants Another Summit With Japan And South Korea

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and South Korean President Moon Jae-in.

SCMP: China sounds out Japan and South Korea for another summit about North Korea this year, sources say

The proposed talks in Beijing in December would be the second such summit this year, and could represent Beijing’s attempt to hold sway in the wake of the Trump-Kim meeting.

China has sounded out Japan and South Korea to hold a trilateral summit again in December in Beijing, hoping to further ramp up cooperation to denuclearise North Korea, diplomatic sources said Sunday.

With the leaders of Japan, China and South Korea having met for a summit in Tokyo just last month, it would be unusual for a trilateral meeting at this level to be held again in the same year.

China, a key economic benefactor of North Korea, appears to be pushing for a successive summit with its neighbours to ensure that it has the lead in the North Korean nuclear issue, following the recent historic US-North Korea summit, some political commentators say.

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WNU Editor: The Chinese wants this summit in December .... which tells me that they expect the talks on the Korean peninsula to not be resolved in the coming months.

South Korea Scramble Fighter Jets To Intercept Chinese Spy Plane

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SCMP/Reuters: South Korea says it scrambled military jets to intercept Chinese spy plane

Seoul lodged a complaint over another incursion less than two months ago

South Korea said on Saturday it had scrambled military jets to intercept a Chinese aircraft that had entered the South’s air defence territory, less than two months after Seoul officially lodged a complaint over another incursion.

The Chinese aircraft was believed to be a military reconnaissance plane and spent nearly four hours in the Korea air defence identification zone, the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement.

It would be at least the third such incident this year. South Korea summoned the Chinese ambassador in February to formally complain.

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Update #1: Korean jets chase off China spy plane during historic Peace Summit -- Taiwan News
Update #2: S. Korea summons Chinese diplomats over violation of air defense zone -- Yonhap News Agency

WNU Editor: At least the Chinese are not openly threatening South Korea as they are threatening Taiwan .... China renews military threat against Taiwan as independence push grows (The Telegraph).

China And South Korea Differ On How To Proceed In The Upcoming Korean Peace Talks

South China Morning Post: China and South Korea at odds over first step in nuclear crisis talks

Beijing wants to ensure it has a major role in reining in Pyongyang’s nuclear programme while Seoul prefers a process built around US talks with the two Koreas, the Post has learned.

Beijing and Seoul appear split over how to start talks on ridding the Korean peninsula of nuclear weapons, as each player vies for influence in the negotiations, according to diplomatic sources.

Sources told the South China Morning Post that Beijing wanted a structure that would continue to give it an active role in reining in Pyongyang’s nuclear programme while protecting China’s regional interests.

Meanwhile, Seoul prefers a process built around US talks with the two Koreas, according to the sources.

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WNU Editor: China is clearly signalling to everyone that they are not going to be put on the sidelines. In the meantime, both North and South Korea are establishing direct communication links .... Koreas discuss communication issues ahead of summit (AP).

China Testing South Korea's Air Defense Zone

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SCMP: South Korea accuses Chinese military plane of entering air defence zone without permission, report says

Fighter jet scrambled to monitor unidentified flight to southwest of Ieo Island, Yonhap cites military officials as saying.

South Korea accused China of flying a military aircraft into its air defence identification zone on Monday without giving prior notification.

“Our military first detected the unidentified flight in the southwest of Ieo Island,” its Joint Chiefs of Staff was quoted as saying in a report by the Yonhap news agency.

The defence authority was cited as saying that the aircraft entered South Korea’s Air Defence Identification Zone (KADIZ) about 9:30am, before moving into Japan’s air identification zone and finally flying out of the South Korean zone about 2:05pm.

It did not provide a precise timeline for the aircraft’s movements.

The report came after five Chinese military aircraft entered the KADIZ on December 18, prompting Seoul to describe the move as an infringement. China’s air force said at the time that the aircraft had been taking part in a routine operation after a long-range exercise into the Sea of Japan.

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Update #1: Chinese Military Plane Buzzes Korea's Air Identification Zone (Chosun Ilbo)
Update #2: Chinese aircraft trespasses South Korea, Japan airspace (UPI)

WNU Editor: After the Winter Olympics are over in South Korea .... expect more of these Chinese aircraft incursions.

China, Japan, And South Korea Have Agreed To Have Their First Summit Together Since 2015

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (R, front) meets with visiting Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono (L, front) in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 28, 2018. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)

Bloomberg: China Will Join First Japan, South Korea Summit Since 2015

* Three-way meeting underscores improved ties between neighbors
* Chinese foreign minister says ‘obstacles remain’ in relations

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang will travel to Tokyo for his country’s first joint summit with Japan and South Korea since 2015, the clearest sign yet of improving ties between the three neighbors.

The meeting was announced by China and Japan late Sunday, as Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono concluded a two-day visit aimed at repairing his country’s strained relationship with China.

Norio Maruyama, a spokesman for the Japanese delegation, said the summit could set the stage for reciprocal visits by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Chinese President Xi Jinping -- a trip neither leader has made since coming to power in 2012.

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Update #1: China, Japan agree to hold China-Japan-ROK summit as soon as possible -- Xinhuanet
Update #2: Japan and China agree to have their leaders resume reciprocal visits -- Japan Times

WNU Editor: This is a positive sign .... Japan, China aim to open military hotline (Daily Star/AFP)

Five Chinese Warplanes Enter Korea's Air Defense Zone Prompting South Korea To Scramble Fighter Jets

Newsweek: Chinese Warplanes Enter Korea Air Defense Zone Prompting South Korea to Scramble Fighter Jets

South Korean fighter jets made an emergency sortie to escort five Chinese warplanes out of the Korean Air Defense Identification Zone (KADIZ), Seoul’s military said Monday.

The South Korean joint chiefs of staff identified two H-6 bombers, two J-11 fighter jets and one TU-154 reconnaissance plane entering the KADIZ on Monday morning, local media reported, from the area over the Socotra Rock, before flying out three and a half hours later.

“Our fighter planes took normal tactical measures, identifying the models of the Chinese planes and flying aerial surveillance until they left,” the South Korean military said, as quoted by Reuters.

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WNU Editor: Welcome to the new normal. South Korea was not the only country that received a Chinese fly-by .... PLA warplanes spotted again near Taiwan, Japan (Asia Times)

More News On Five Chinese Warplanes Entering Korea's Air Defense Zone That Prompted South Korea to Scramble Fighter Jets

China air force drills in Sea of Japan and again around Taiwan -- Reuters
China’s warplanes hold drill near Japan, South Korea, Taiwan -- Washington Post/AP
South Korea accuses Chinese military planes of breaching its air defence zone -- South China Morning Post
China, After Summit, Flies Military Aircraft Into Airspace Claimed by Seoul -- Wall Street Journal
South Korea scrambles fighter jets after China military planes enter country's airspace -- The Independent
China Holds Drills Near Taiwan for Second Time in Row - Reports -- Sputnik International
5 Chinese warplanes enter Korea's air defense zone -- Korea Times
Five Chinese warplanes fly within KADIZ for "ordinary drill": JCS -- Arirang

China And South Korea Agee To Mend Ties And To Find Common Ground On North Korea

VOA: South Korea, China Make Amends, But THAAD Dispute Lingers

BEIJING — For his first state visit to China, South Korean President Moon Jae-in came with an entourage of more than 300 business people, an actress who is wildly popular here and heartthrob boy band EXO, which sings in both Korean and Chinese.

The charm offensive was aimed at helping get frosty trade relations back on track, analysts said.

While the liberal-leaning South Korean leader is in sync with China and its approach toward North Korea - leaning heavily against military action - he hasn’t given ground to Beijing on his country’s deployment of the U.S.-made Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile system.

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WNU Editor: Both countries are in complete sync on the issue of North Korea. Both countries do not want a war on the Korean peninsula, and both realize that they must work together to contain North Korea. This meeting was also a message to President Trump that both China and South Korea are on top of North Korea. But I noticed some inconsistencies in this summit .... specifically on the part of China .... South Koreans fume over perceived diplomatic snubs by China (Nikkei Asian Review). Yup .... China was belittling South Korea on a few occasions .... and this lack of respect has been noticed by everyone in the region, especially when this happened .... Chinese Security Guards Beat South Korean Journalists In Shocking Footage From Beijing Trade Fair (Newsweek).

More News On China And South Korea Agreeing To Mend Starined Ties And To Find Common Ground On North Korea

'Moon-Xi summit showed willingness to mend strained ties' -- The Korea Herald
China and South Korea Hail 'New Start' Amid Scuffle -- The Diplomat
China says war must not be allowed on Korean Peninsula -- The Japan News
South Korean President Says Pyongyang's Nuclear Program Threatening China -- Sputnik International
South Korean President Moon Jae-in stresses understanding, communication between Seoul and Beijing -- The World On Arirang

China Makes A Deal With South Korea That Undermines U.S. Efforts To Establish A Regional Defense Umbrella Wth Japan And South Korea

Chinese President Xi Jinping gives his epic speech to the 19th National Congress. Photo: Reuters

David Josef Volodzko, SCMP: China wins its war against South Korea’s US THAAD missile shield – without firing a shot

Seoul signs up to military constraints in return for Beijing lifting economic sanctions, setting a worrying precedent for China’s regional rivals.

A detente between China and South Korea may be good news for the Korean economy and a necessary step towards resolving the North Korea issue, but at the same time it threatens to degrade regional security for years to come.

When South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed on November 11 to “normalise exchanges”, they ended a conflict that began more than a year ago with Seoul and Washington’s decision to deploy an anti-ballistic missile system in South Korea.

Beijing, which claims the system’s radar can be used by the United States to spy on China, retaliated against the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) system with unofficial sanctions against the South. Seoul has now agreed to accept military constraints in return for the lifting of those sanctions, creating a worrying precedent for Beijing’s rivals in the region.

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WNU Editor: The key parts of this deal are the following ....

.... The military constraints are known as the “three nos”, meaning Seoul agrees there will be no further anti-ballistic missile systems in Korea, no joining of a region-wide US missile defence system and no military alliance involving Korea, the US and Japan. This is an enormous sacrifice but for reasons both economic and political Moon had few other options.

South Korea has been suffering from Chinese economic sanctions for the past 16 months .... they just threw in the towel. Unfortunately .... it also undermines U.S. efforts to establish a regional defense umbrella that would involve South Korea, Japan, and the U.S.. To put it bluntly .... President Trump's strategy of containing North Korea by working with South Korea and Japan has just suffered a setback. This also explains what has happened in the past few weeks. President Trump goes to Japan .... and is told by the Japanese on how dangerous the situation is in this part of Asia. He goes to South Korea .... and is told that they are negotiating with China on a defense and economic arrangement that will squeeze the U.S. out .... but China will play an important role in holding back North Korea. Trump goes to China .... is told the same thing, but with even more promises from the Chinese that they will contain North Korea.  President Trump and his advisers do not share the same optimism that South Korea and China have on being able to contain North Korea, and they make the judgement call that it is going to get worse ..... hence we are now reading reports like this .... U.S. Escalates Its Research To Try And Stop North Korean Missiles From Leaving Korean Airspace (November 16, 2017). As for China's promises and optimism on containing North Korea .... I guess it is not working out ....North Korean Leader Kim Jong-un Is Ignoring China's Special Envoy To Improve Ties.

North Korean Leader Kim Jong-un Is Ignoring China's Special Envoy To Improve Ties

Chinese special envoy Song Tao (second from left) meets with Choi Ryong-hae, Vice Chairman of the Central Committee of the Korean Workers’ Party at the Mansudae Assembly in Pyongyang on Nov. 17. (taken from the Chinese Communist Party International Liaison Department website)

Korea Herald: ‘NK leader’s attitude toward Chinese envoy shows his frustration’

A lack of response from the North Korean leader toward an ongoing visit by China’s special envoy may be a sign of Kim Jong-un’s frustration toward China’s newfound cooperation with the United States, an expert in South Korea said Monday.

“The meeting between Kim Jong-un and Song Tao, if realized, could be viewed as a barometer for the North Korea-China relationship and if there is no sign of such interaction by the end of the trip, it means Kim is expressing his discomfort over China’s North Korea policy,” said Koh Yu-hwan, a professor at Dongguk University in Seoul.

Beijing dispatched Song Tao, who heads the ruling Communist Party’s external affairs department in Beijing, to Pyongyang on Friday to “inform North Korea of the (19th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party),” said China’s state-run Xinhua News Agency.

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WNU Editor: People are beginning to notice .... Chinese special envoy yet to meet with Kim Jong-un (The Hankyoreh). This blog noticed this two days ago .... China Says Will Work With North Korea. North Korea Sends A Different Message (November 18, 2017).

China And South Korea Have Reset Their Relationship

Reuters: China, South Korea agree to mend ties after THAAD standoff

SEOUL/BEIJING (Reuters) - Seoul and Beijing on Tuesday agreed to move beyond a year-long stand-off over the deployment of a U.S. anti-missile system in South Korea, a dispute that has been devastating to South Korean businesses that rely on Chinese consumers.

The unexpected detente comes just days before U.S. President Donald Trump begins a trip to Asia, where the North Korean nuclear crisis will take center stage, and helped propel South Korean stocks to a record high.

The installation of the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system had angered China, with South Korea’s tourism, cosmetics and entertainment industries bearing the brunt of a Chinese backlash, although Beijing has never specifically linked that to the THAAD deployment.

Beijing worries the THAAD system’s powerful radar can penetrate into Chinese territory.

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Update: South Korea and China End Dispute Over Missile Defense System -- New York Times

WNU Editor: I am not surprised that this rapprochement is occurring only after the Chinese Party Congress ended last week. South Korea is not the problem .... the problem is North Korea .... but because of internal politics Chinese President Xi felt constrained. That constraint is now gone. Expect more changes in Chinese foreign policy in the coming weeks.

China Threatens South Korea Over THAAD Redeployment

© Missile Defense Agency

Sputnik: Beijing Bares Teeth, Threatens South Korea Over THAAD Redeployment

Beijing has made no secret of its displeasure with South Korea’s deployment of the American-made Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system - and now that the deployment has resumed, China may seek to retaliate against Seoul.

When liberal South Korean President Moon Jae-in took office in May, Chinese leadership likely breathed a sigh of relief, as he announced a forestalling of the THAAD deployment for up to 15 months while the South Korean government undertook an environmental impact analysis of the system. Two of the six platforms had already been rolled out and Moon lacked the authority to suspend or dismantle them — but he could stall for time on the rest.

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WNU Editor: In a snub to China .... South Korea is telling everyone that they are coordinating with the U.S. when it comes to North Korea .... U.S., South Korea coordinating on North Korea, Seoul says (UPI). Japan is also getting on this bandwagon .... Consider The THAAD: How An Armed Japan Could Help Tame North Korea (Forbes). As much as many like to believe that business will return back to normal .... and that the U.S./South Korea/Japan/etc. will back down .... the momentum in the region is anything but. I have been an observer of this part of the world for 35 years .... and I have never seen the region as tense as it is now. More to the point .... I can now safely say (because no one else is saying it) that China's policy and strategy towards North Korea is a completely failure, and their stubbornness to not change is resulting in blow-back that I am sure they never expected. And by now threatening countries like South Korea .... while being mute with North Korea .... China is placing itself in a position where they are alienating everyone, with ramifications that will be felt throughout Asia.

China, South Korea, Japan Summit ‘Postponed’ Over Tensions On The Deployment Of The U.S. Missile Defence Shield

Image: Flickr/futureatlas.com.

South China Morning Post: China, South Korea, Japan summit ‘postponed’ amid missile shield row

Talks planned for next month will not go ahead, sources say, with Beijing’s anger over Seoul’s deployment of a missile defence shield among the reasons.

A summit of top officials from China, South Korea and Japan has been postponed and will not be held next month as Tokyo had planned, according to diplomatic sources.

China’s reluctance to attend partly prompted by the prolonged dispute between Beijing and Seoul over the deployment of a US-developed anti-missile system on the Korean peninsula were blamed, the sources and Japanese media said on Thursday.

Tokyo had wanted to host the summit either between July 19 and 21 or July 24 and 26, but China replied it was “difficult” to attend during those dates, the Japanese news agency Kyodo News reported, citing diplomatic sources.

However, a South Korean diplomatic source told the South China Morning Post that deteriorating relations between China and Japan, which have long been stained by territorial disputes over islands in the East China Sea, were also a reason behind the postponement.

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WNU Editor: The summit may be postponed, but China - Japan talks on preventing accidental clashes in the East China Sea are progressing .... Japan, China start talks to prevent accidental clashes in East China Sea, disputed isles (Japan Times/Kyodo).

China Demands South Korea Halt The Deployment Of The THAAD Missile Defense System

Daily Mail: China demands an 'immediate' halt to Trump's controversial US anti-missile system set up on a South Korean golf course after Seoul said it can now defend against Kim's missiles

* Geng Shuang, China's foreign spokesman, launched attack on THAAD system
* Said Beijing will 'take necessary measures' to defend against the missile battery
* China fears the weapon's powerful radar will be used to spy on their military
* Mr Geng's comments came just hours after the battery became operational

China has demanded an 'immediate' halt to the deployment of a controversial US missile system in South Korea just hours after it became operational.

Beijing threatened to 'take necessary measures to uphold our interests' after the THAAD missile battery came online on a golf course in the county of Seongju.

Washington and Seoul believe the billion-dollar defense system is necessary to protect citizens after repeated North Korean missile tests, but China fears its powerful radar system will be used to spy on them.

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More News On China Demanding South Korea Halt The Deployment Of The THAAD Missile Defense System

China reiterates opposition to THAAD anti-missile system in South Korea -- Reuters
China demands halt to US missile shield in South Korea -- AFP
China demands immediate halt to THAAD missile system now ‘operational’ in South Korea -- South China Morning Post
China tells US to remove anti-missile THAAD system from South Korea amid spying fears -- The Independent
China warns of stern measures against THAAD operation -- Korea Herald
China demands ‘immediate’ halt to THAAD deployment in South Korea -- RT
US, S Korea to End THAAD Deployment Process - FM -- Sputnik
China demands THAAD deployment to South Korea be stopped immediately -- TASS

China Wants South Korea To Withdraw The U.S. THAAD Missile Defense System

Reuters: China urges withdrawal of U.S. THAAD missile defence system in South Korea

China said on Wednesday it had expressed serious concern to Washington and Seoul after the U.S. military started moving parts of its controversial THAAD anti-missile defence system to a deployment site in South Korea.

Speaking at a daily news briefing in Beijing, Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said China urged the U.S. and South Korea to withdraw the system.

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More News On China Wanting South Korea To Withdraw The U.S. THAAD Missile Defense System

China demands South Korea remove THAAD defense system -- UPI
China urges withdrawal of THAAD installation -- Korea Times
Despite China's protests, US moves THAAD anti-missile defence system to South Korea -- International Business Times
China voices grave concern over THAAD deployment -- CCTV
China Voices Serious Concerns With US THAAD Deployment Start in South Korea -- Sputnik

China And South Korea Have Agreed To Slap Tougher Sanctions On North Korea

Reuters: China, South Korea discuss more sanctions on North Korea amid talk of Trump action

China and South Korea agreed on Monday to slap tougher sanctions on North Korea if it carries out nuclear or long-range missile tests, a senior official in Seoul said, as a U.S. Navy strike group headed to the region in a show of force.

North Korea marks several major anniversaries this month and often marks the occasions with major tests of military hardware.

The possibility of U.S. military action against North Korea in response to such tests gained traction following last week's strikes against Syria. Previously, Washington has leaned toward sanctions and pressure to deter North Korea, but comments from U.S. President Donald Trump's top aides at the weekend suggest that position may be hardening.

However, South Korea's chief nuclear envoy Kim Hong-kyun said there was no mention of any military option in his talks with China's Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Affairs, Wu Dawei. The two also did not discuss any possible strike against the North by the Trump administration, he said.

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Update #1: South Korea, China Agree on Action to End North Korea Nuclear Threat (VOA)
Update #2: South Korea: China’s nuclear envoy to discuss cooperation with S.Korea (Asian Correspondent)

WNU Editor: In the past China always moved at a snails pace when it came to North Korea. But this South Korean - Chinese meeting .... on the heels so soon after the Trump - Xi summit .... tells me that President Trump was able to convey his point of view to Chinese President Xi that this is a high priority issue for him, and it should be resolved collectively.

China Did Not Answer The Hotline When South Korea Called When China's Bombers Flew Into South Korea's Aid Defense Zone

UPI: South Korea military: China hotline wasn't working when bombers deployed

SEOUL, Jan. 12 (UPI) -- A military hotline between China and South Korea was not working when Beijing dispatched 10 strategic bombers to Korea-claimed airspace on Monday.

While China eventually told Seoul the planes were dispatched for training purposes, South Korea's military said the hotline was not functioning when it initially reached out to Beijing, South Korean news service News 1 reported Thursday.

China told Seoul the planes were dispatched for training purposes, but a South Korea defense official said the planes may have had a "different purpose" and that "further analysis" is needed

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WNU Editor: The Chinese did this on purpose .... to not answer the hotline. To say that they are "playing with fire" is an understatement.

Chinese Warplanes Cross Into The Korea Strait Prompting A Major Response From South Korea And Japan

South China Morning Post: Japan, South Korea scramble fighter jets after eight Chinese warplanes fly over Korea Strait

Move by Chinese aircraft, including bombers, signals Beijing’s determination to step up routine presence in waters in which China has interests, experts say.

At least eight Chinese warplanes were spotted flying over the Korea Strait close to Japanese islands on Monday, prompting Japanese and South Korean air forces to scramble fighter jets.

The move signalled Beijing’s determination to step up its routine presence in any waters in which China had an interest, ­observers said.

The People’s Liberation Army aircraft flew over the eastern channel of the Korea Strait, towards the Sea of ​Japan, turned around to the north of Oki Island, in Shimane prefecture, and then flew back over the East China Sea, NHK TV reported, citing Japan’s Ministry of Defence.

The aircraft were six H-6 strategic bombers, one Shaanxi Y-8 early-warning plane and a Shaanxi Y-9 intelligence-gathering aircraft.

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WNU Editor: Talk about timing .... even the Russian navy is making its presence felt (and probably monitoring these events) .... Russian military ships step up activities in seas around Japan (Japan News/The Yomiuri Shimbun)

More News On China War Planes Crossing Into The Korea Strait

Chinese planes penetrate Korea’s ADIZ -- Korea JoongAng Daily
10 Chinese Warplanes Violate S. Korean Air Defense Zone -- KBS
Chinese fighters keep violating air defense zone -- Korea Times
Chinese military planes flying to Sea of Japan prompt scramble -- Asahi Shimbun
Japan Scrambles Jet Fighters Amid Flight of Chinese Aircraft Over Korean Strait -- Sputnik
Japan, S Korea scramble jets after China flies bombers -- Al Jazeera
Japan, South Korea scramble fighters after Chinese aircraft fly over Korea Strait -- IHS Jane's 360
THAAD tension brews after China sends planes to Korea's air zone -- Korea Herald