In a written response to reporters Thursday, the embassy said Brunson’s recent remarks portrayed South Korea and USFK as a forward base aimed at China, warning that he had “clearly crossed the line.”
Brunson said in a U.S. Army War College podcast released on May 22 that “when they look out from the east coast of China, what they see is Korea, the dagger in the heart of Asia,” emphasizing South Korea’s geographic importance and the role of U.S. troops on the peninsula in countering China.
Last year, he also described South Korea as “an island or a stationary aircraft carrier” between China and Japan.
“Is describing USFK as an aircraft carrier or a dagger an act of belligerence, or is it intended to take other countries hostage?” a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy said.
Referring to a recent summit between the U.S. and Chinese leaders, where the two sides agreed to build a constructive and strategically stable relationship, the spokesperson also questioned whether Brunson’s remarks had been approved by Washington.
“Were your hostile and aggressive remarks toward China approved by Washington, or are they intended to undermine the agreement reached at the U.S.-China summit?” the spokesperson said.
The embassy also noted that some South Korean media outlets had criticized Brunson’s remarks, urging the USFK commander to show greater respect for countries in the region.
“We hope the commander of U.S. Forces Korea will make greater efforts to respect regional countries and promote regional peace and stability,” the spokesperson said.
The embassy’s response appears to reflect Beijing’s growing concern that Washington is seeking to draw South Korea further into efforts to contain China, as the U.S. pushes to expand the strategic flexibility of USFK beyond deterring North Korea to potential regional contingencies, including in the Taiwan Strait.
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