Study on the THAAD Issue and Chinese Responses from Hierarchical Theory Perspective

Abstract

The THAAD issue has already been a high wall in the normal development of Sino-South Korean relations. And South Korea, under the great pressure from China, has still insisted on pushing forward the deployment progress of THAAD system, it relates to the perceptions of the North Korean nuclear weapons and missiles which bring great threats to South Korean national security, also has the tight connection with the American influence. Applying the David Lake’s hierarchy theory, it will explain effectively the other reason why South Korea have chosen to deploy the THAAD under the background of Sino-American game on THAAD issue.