The American decision to deploy its Terminal High Altitude Area Defense System (THAAD) to Guam is being portrayed as a necessary and sensible move to neutralise missiles launched by North Korea should its threat to rain nuclear destruction on the Pacific island become reality.
But it is interesting US officials admit that THAAD, which consists of land-based rockets that simply crash into and destroy enemy missiles in flight, will take several weeks to become operational.
By which time, one would think, the crisis will have passed or Guam would be a radioactive ruin.
In addition, THAAD has been designed to attack smaller targets such as Scuds. Its effectiveness against large Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs) which North Korea would presumably launch, is problematical.
It is much more likely the Pentagon is assessing Pyongyang’s rhetoric as just so much hot air; that it has no real intention of launching what would be a suicide attack on the US and its Asian allies. However, this would be an excellent opportunity to install a missile defence system whose purpose would really be to deter any future aggression from China.
Beijing’s assertion of territorial rights over islands in the South China and East China seas has Washington analysts concerned should this policy, at some future date, extend to territories further afield.
The installation of THAAD in normal times would have led to vigorous protests from China which would claim it was part of a plan to contain and isolate it in its own backyard. But in the present circumstances Beijing can hardly protest.
In effect, North Korea is unwittingly aiding its great enemy’s plan to maintain a strong and effective presence in the Asia-Pacific region.
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