The United States by threatening to deploy anti-missile systems close to the borders of both China and Russia is propelling the world towards a new and dangerous arms race, says Professor Dennis Etler, an American political analyst who has a decades-long interest in international affairs.

The US military announced last week that it will start formal talks with South Korea on placing the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense System (THAAD) on the North Korea’s doorstep.

THAAD is designed to shoot down ballistic missiles in their terminal phase using a hit-to-kill approach. The Pentagon made the announcement after North Korea launched a long-range rocket carrying what it called a satellite.

Washington says it wants to deploy the anti-missile system THAAD to the Korean Peninsula as a deterrent against North Korea’s ballistic missile program.

Meanwhile, China says the possible US deployment of the anti-missile system to the Korean Peninsula is a threat to China’s strategic interests, and Beijing will not allow its “national security interests to be damaged.”

US attempting to contain Russia and China

Etler, a professor of Anthropology at Cabrillo College in Aptos, California, told Press TV on Monday that “US efforts to install an anti-ballistic missile system in South Korea to counter North Korea’s nuclear tests and recent satellite launch are part of a much larger effort to contain both Russia and China with a ‘Ring of Fire.’”

“For instance, the US has been using every artifice possible to convince and cajole Eastern European states to allow the placement of an array of offensive weapons on Russia’s doorstep,” he added.

“The US has repeatedly violated the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, known as the INF with its policy of deploying an European anti-missile shield, while cynically accusing Russia of as yet unsubstantiated violations,” he noted.

“Based on Washington’s self-serving allegations the US now plans on  placing new long-range cruise missiles, unmanned drone systems, long-range bombers, as well as an upgraded nuclear gravity bomb in Eastern Europe to counter the supposed Russian threat.”

‘War is peace and offense is defense’

“For the US war is peace and offense is defense and any nations that respond to US threats and intimidation with defensive moves of their own are called aggressors,” Professor Etler said.

“The brazen acts of US disregard for treaty obligations was stridently voiced by Brian McKeon, a top US arms control official, when he recently told US funded ‘Radio Liberty, that Russia represents a challenge to transatlantic security and ‘Accordingly, we are developing a comprehensive response to Russian military actions and are committing investments now that we will make, irrespective of Russia’s returning to compliance with the INF treaty.’

“This is seen by the Russians as an attempt by Washington to ‘neutralize’ Russia’s strategic nuclear deterrent and gain a ‘decisive military superiority.’

“The same scenario is now being played out in East and Southeast Asia.  By exacerbating tensions on the Korean peninsula the US has forced North Korea’s hand and ensured that the DPRK would continue to develop its nuclear deterrence as a matter of national defense and survival.

“Even the launch of a satellite is seen by the US as an offensive move by North Korea, while the US is free to station troops and offensive military hardware throughout the world in order to impose its hegemony.”

THAAD, a clear danger to China

“Just as the Russians see the placement of US missiles system in their backyard as an existential threat so too do the Chinese view the US plan to place the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense System (THAAD) on the North Korea’s doorstep and close to China’s borders as a clear and present danger,” Professor Etler said.

“As Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei stated China was ‘seriously concerned about the possible deployment of the THAAD system’, as it ‘covers a range that is far beyond the needs of defense of the Korean peninsula,’ and would trigger an arms race in the Asia-Pacific region.

“Hong continued that ‘We will not allow our legitimate rights and national security interests to be damaged.’

“At the same time the US Obama administration is holding a summit conference with ASEAN nations to try and cajole them into backing US meddling and interference in the South China Sea, where it hopes to further assert its hegemonic ambitions to the detriment of Chinese security concerns.

“Such existential threats posed by the US to both Russia and China are bringing the world that much closer to a flashpoint that could have unimaginable consequences.”