Tension is growing among the powers in the Asia-Pacific region.

The Obama administration, which announced a plan in March 2012 to deploy a missile defence system in the Asia-Pacific, has pushed the bid till it persuaded south Korea to accept the offer last month.

The US has repeatedly advertised that the THAAD system is designed to protect its entire territory from any possible missile attack by an enemy state, but it is actually aimed at containing its rivals.

No doubt the deployment of the THAAD system, a chain of the global anti-missile network worth tens of billions of dollars, is another strategic option for the US to guarantee its capacity for nuclear strike.

No small number of military experts have commented that the THAAD deployment in south Korea will neutralize the capacity of Russia and China to deal a strategic strike and that the Cold War between the Soviet Union and the US has revived into a new Cold War between China and the US.

They see that the THAAD deployment in south Korea is just the beginning and the US will take a follow-up to station the system in Japan and the Philippines.

Since the demise of the Cold War the US has worked to set up a global missile defence system around the mainland, especially in Europe and the Asia-Pacific.

Two months ago, it launched the operation of an anti-missile base in southern Romania, and now steps up the construction of a similar base in northern Poland. More MD system components are expected to be put in place in Europe. There is little reason to deny such US moves are aimed at undermining Russia’s strategic capability.

What is noticeable in the US bid for the MD system on both sides of Eurasia is its much-hyped illogic argument.

The US plays up “the DPRK’s nuclear and missile threats” in the Asia-Pacific while publicizing the theory of “Iran threat” in Europe—in hopes of justifying its MD bid.

The theory of “Iran threat” has lost ground in the wake of the Iranian nuclear deal, but the MD deployment goes on in Europe.

The same is true with the THAAD deployment in south Korea.

Even US experts claim that even though the DPRK had not built nukes the US would have made another excuse to intervene in Northeast Asia militarily.

Powers are well aware of the US ambition to overpower its potential adversaries to seek supremacy in Northeast Asia and beyond.

Russia and China are getting closer to each other on a strategic term, which can be seen as a warning against the US that is bent on military intervention in Northeast Asia in tandem with Japan and south Korea.

Also, such military buildup as THAAD deployment seems to be a dangerous gambit of the US administration eager to come out of the economic slowdown.

The current economic recession in the US has made a somewhat dent in the profits of the conglomerates and swelled unemployment, causing public dissatisfaction with the government and politicians.

So the Obama administration tries to increase jobs to some extent and mitigate the growing discontent by ensuring giant defence vendors sign contracts for the THAAD system and other military equipment.

In the long run, the US’ hegemonic ambition will inevitably cause reaction, which will in turn strain the tension in Northeast Asia.

The US hopes to threaten any enemies at will while it is free from any threat by dint of such “nuclear shield” as THAAD.

Not to be outdone, other powers in the region are seeking their own way to counter the US.

There is neither spear that can pierce anything, nor shield that is absolutely impregnable.

By Choe Yong Nam PT