Envoy airs concern over Peninsula tension

China's ambassador to the United Nations has voiced concerns over peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula amid the launch of a satellite by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the plan to start combined military exercises by the Republic of Korea, the United States and Japan.

The Korean Peninsula is right at China's doorstep, and no one is more concerned about the peace and stability of the peninsula than China is, Fu Cong, China's permanent representative to the UN, said on Friday.

The current situation on the peninsula is highly tense, with escalating confrontation and opposition, he told a Security Council meeting on nonproliferation and the DPRK. "China is deeply concerned about this."

The DPRK's attempt to launch a military reconnaissance satellite failed on May 27, the official Korean Central News Agency reported.

Fu said China had noted the recent satellite launch attempt by the DPRK and the reactions to it from all the relevant parties.

"We call on all parties to remain calm and restrained, avoiding any actions or statements that could exacerbate tensions and conflicts. Together, we should work to maintain peace and stability on the peninsula and advance the political resolution process of the peninsula issue."

The Korean Peninsula issue is essentially a security issue, Fu said, adding the root cause lies in the remnants of the Cold War, the lack of a peace mechanism and the absence of mutual trust between the US and the DPRK.

Missed opportunities

Historically, there have been moments of hope and opportunities for a political solution to the peninsula issue, he said. However, because of the failure of the relevant parties to keep their promises, these opportunities were ultimately missed.

Fu expressed his opposition to plans by the ROK and the US to conduct combined military drills in August. "This approach will only intensify the tense atmosphere, increase the risk of war and chaos on the peninsula and make the goal of long-term peace and stability more difficult to achieve," he said, adding that China opposes it.

Security is indivisible, and achieving universal, balanced and sustainable security is key to addressing challenges such as the Korean Peninsula issue, Fu said. Countries cannot ensure their own security by ignoring others' concerns or compromising others' security, he said.

In April, the US deployed the midrange capability missile system, also known as Typhon, to Luzon, the Philippines, as part of their joint military exercise.

This is the first time that the US has deployed a land-based, ground-launched system after it withdrew from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, Fu said.

The fundamental purpose of such deployment "is to seek unilateral military advantage and provide more options for military blackmail and expansion", he said.

"It is worth noting that the US is not deploying these weapons on its own soil but in other countries, particularly at the doorsteps of its so-called competitors. Under the guise of military alliances, they are provoking military confrontation and pursuing geopolitical interests."

China urges the US to fulfill its obligations, respect the desire for stability and cooperation, stop its dangerous actions and abandon plans to deploy the midrange missiles in the Asia-Pacific region, he said.