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| THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) System |
By Harry Kazianis
Over the last several years nothing has piqued my curiosity more than China’s various anti-access developments. Things like “carrier-killer” missiles, ultra quiet diesel submarines, advanced mines, and even various types of cyberwarfare capabilities all illicit various reactions depending on where you sit in East Asia or even globally. The People’s Republic has surely developed some impressive capabilities with the intention of denying or delaying the arrival of large combat forces into a contested area of military operations (PDF). And while such capabilities are developed with the United States largely in mind, it might be North Korea that ends up negating some of Beijing’s new military capabilities – not America’s pivot or rebalance.
Over the last few weeks, Pyongyang has made various threats that have driven tremendous amounts of fear and anxiety around the world. In response, the United States has made several shows of force in an effort to demonstrate its resolve. B-52s, B-2s, and F-22s have all been used to signal to North Korea that such intense rhetoric and dubious claims would be met with the reality of American and South Korean military power. For its part, South Korea’s leadership has made it clear that North Korean provocations crossing from words into deeds would be met with a strong response.
Read the full story at The Diplomat