Zhong Guanying Threatens "Same Path as Ukraine" if South Korea Joins Quad or NATO

Global Times Severely Criticizes South Korea's Full Membership in NATO Cyber Defense Center
Warns of Increased Confrontations with China, Russia, and North Korea if Joining US-Led Alliance

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Jo Young-shin] South Korea's National Intelligence Service (NIS) becoming a full member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence (CCDCOE) has been criticized by Chinese state media as an attempt to contain China and Russia.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Global Times reported on the 6th that South Korea's NIS became the first Asian country to join the NATO Cyber Defence Centre. The outlet pointed out that cyber defense is one of the core missions of military alliances, and with the NIS joining the NATO Cyber Defence Centre, the United States has established a foundation to intervene not only in the Korean Peninsula but also in Northeast Asia and the Indo-Pacific region.

Dazgang, Director of the Dongbongga Research Institute at Heilongjiang Academy of Social Sciences, expressed concerns that "South Korea's joining the NATO Cyber Defence Centre increases the likelihood of South Korea joining other U.S.-led intelligence alliances," and warned that the U.S. might include South Korea and two other countries in the Five Eyes (an intelligence-sharing alliance among the U.S., UK, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand).

Song Zhongping, a Chinese military expert, emphasized, "For the U.S. to check China and Russia and to win in the event of military conflict, intelligence gathering is essential," adding, "The U.S. is aiming to build a new global intelligence network through restructuring existing intelligence alliances."

The Global Times reported that once Yoon Suk-yeol, the President-elect of South Korea, takes office, South Korea will further strengthen its ties with the United States. It also mentioned that U.S. President Joe Biden is expected to visit South Korea soon.

Additionally, it reported that South Korea might attend the NATO summit scheduled for the end of June. The Global Times noted that Yoon had previously stated he would positively consider joining the Quad (a consultative group consisting of the U.S., Australia, India, and Japan) after taking office.

The Global Times claimed that South Korea intends to entrust its security to the U.S.-led security group.

Song stated, "If South Korea strengthens cooperation with NATO or even joins NATO, it will result in greater insecurity," and raised his voice saying, "South Korea's security can only be guaranteed through mutual trust with neighboring countries."

The Global Times emphasized that what benefits the U.S. does not necessarily help South Korea, and that the expansion of U.S.-led alliances into the Indo-Pacific region will not proceed as planned.

The outlet cited Ukraine as an example, pointing out that Ukraine's pursuit of NATO membership provoked Russia. The Global Times warned that if South Korea joins or shows signs of joining U.S. alliances, it will trigger more confrontations with China, Russia, and North Korea. This implies that Russia's invasion of Ukraine stemmed from Ukraine's NATO membership efforts and threatens that South Korea could follow the same path as Ukraine.

Hu Xijin, former editor-in-chief of the Global Times, linked the article on his Twitter account and wrote, "If South Korea chooses a path of hostility toward its neighboring countries, the end of that path could be Ukraine."

Meanwhile, Wang Qishan, Vice President of China, will attend the inauguration ceremony of President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol on the 10th. The attendance of a vice president rather than a vice premier is superficially a gesture of consideration toward neighboring South Korea. However, beneath the surface, if China does not receive a commensurate response to its gesture, the Chinese government's attitude could change 180 degrees.