Chinese Embassy in Seoul Criticizes USFK Commander's Remarks on South Korea

SEOUL, May 28 (Yonhap) -- The Chinese Embassy in Seoul on Thursday criticized recent remarks by U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) Commander Gen. Xavier Brunson likening South Korea to a "dagger" in Asia from Beijing's perspective amid an intensifying U.S.-Sino rivalry. In a podcast interview hosted by the U.S. Army War College on Friday, Brunson was quoted as describing South Korea as "the dagger in the heart of Asia," amid lingering speculation that the United States would seek to leverage USFK assets to help deter an increasingly assertive China. Last year, Brunson also highlighted the strategic value of South Korea in overcoming geographic constraints in the broader Indo-Pacific, depicting the Asian ally as a "fixed aircraft carrier" in the region. In a Chinese statement shared on social media, a Chinese Embassy spokesperson criticized Bruson's remarks, saying that they have "indeed crossed the line." "By describing the host country as an 'aircraft carrier' or a 'dagger' -- both instruments of war -- are you revealing your own belligerence, or are you trying to use other countries as pawns," an English translation of the statement showed. Mentioning the recent summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, the spokesperson also questioned whether Bruson's remarks were representative of Washington's position. "Were your China-related remarks, full of hostility and aggression, authorized by Washington, or are you attempting to challenge the consensus reached by the Chinese and U.S. presidents during their meeting in Beijing," the spokesperson added. Brunson's remarks came as Seoul and Washington are working to "modernize" the bilateral alliance, under which the Asian ally is expected to undertake a greater security burden in a way that would enable the 28,500-strong USFK to look beyond the Korean Peninsula to confront broader regional threats.