Candy, makeup, K-pop get doused amid China’s ire over THAAD
SEOUL, Korea, Republic Of — The once-cordial ties between South Korea and its biggest trading partner have soured due to the perception that China has targeted businesses, sports teams and culture to protest deployment of an advanced U.S. anti-missile system in South Korea.
A South Korean candy maker, a chocolate factory, video games and a soccer team have suffered from actions many in South Korea view as retribution and Chinese have vandalized some South Korean-run stores.
Beijing is incensed over the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defence system. The U.S. and South Korea say it’s needed as a defence against a belligerent North Korea but China believes the system could be used against its own missiles as well.
China denies any direct link between its ire over the U.S. missile system and recent troubles for South Korean businesses. Some recent developments viewed as retaliation: