China says intelligence-sharing agreement will increase tensions on Korean peninsula
Record ID:
77707
China says intelligence-sharing agreement will increase tensions on Korean peninsula
- Title: China says intelligence-sharing agreement will increase tensions on Korean peninsula
- Date: 23rd November 2016
- Summary: BEIJING, CHINA (NOVEMBER 23, 2016) (REUTERS) CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN GENG SHUANG WALKING IN FOR REGULAR BRIEFING MEDIA SEATED (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN, GENG SHUANG, SAYING: "The relevant countries have maintained a Cold War mentality and increased military intelligence cooperation, which will increase opposition and confrontation on the Korean peninsula. (This) will add a new unsafe, unstable element to Northeast Asia, which does not comply with the trend of peaceful development and is not in line with the common interests of regional countries." BRIEFING IN PROGRESS EXTERIOR OF CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY CHINESE NATIONAL FLAG FLYING
- Embargoed: 8th December 2016 09:36
- Keywords: China intelligence-sharing Korea North Korea South Korea Japan agreement Korean peninsula intelligence security military
- Location: BEIJING, CHINA
- City: BEIJING, CHINA
- Country: China
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA00159O01MT
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: China said on Wednesday (November 23) that a signed military intelligence pact between South Korea and Japan on the threat posed by North Korea would add to tensions on the Korean peninsula.
South Korea and Japan signed the General Security of Military Information Agreement in Seoul earlier on Wednesday, the South's defence ministry said, to share sensitive information on the threat posed by North Korea's missile and nuclear activities.
Beijing remains North Korea's most important ally, despite Chinese anger at its missile and nuclear tests.
"The relevant countries have maintained a Cold War mentality and increased military intelligence cooperation, which will increase opposition and confrontation on the Korean peninsula. (This) will add a new unsafe, unstable element to Northeast Asia, which does not comply with the trend of peaceful development and is not in line with the common interests of regional countries," said Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang at a regular briefing.
The signing of the deal had originally been expected in 2012, but South Korea postponed it due to domestic opposition from some political parties and a large section of the public who remain bitter over Japan's actions during World War Two.
A survey by Gallup Korea on Friday (November 18) showed that 59 percent of 1,007 respondents opposed the agreement between the two countries.
Many of protesters demanding President Park Geun-hye to resign over an influence-pedalling scandal also insisted Park withdraw the military information sharing agreement with Tokyo.
The case for the neighbours to pool intelligence has increased, however, as North Korea has been testing different types of missiles at a faster rate, and claims it has the capability to mount a nuclear warhead on a missile. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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