Parties hail decision to join AIIB amid qualms about THAAD

SEOUL, March 27 (Yonhap) -- Rival parties on Friday welcomed South Korea's decision to join the China-led regional development bank AIIB, although the main opposition party raised suspicions it could be a precursor to the deployment of a U.S. anti-missile defense system here.

On Thursday, South Korea announced its decision to participate in the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank as a founding member. The decision was seen as a victory for China, South Korea's largest trading partner, and a blow to the U.S., South Korea's traditional ally, which has questioned the transparency and standards of governance of the envisioned lender.

Park Dae-chul, spokesman of the ruling Saenuri Party, said the decision was a strategic choice made in the national interest.

"If we actively participate in the financial and diplomatic market for the construction of Asian infrastructure, it will help domestic firms with experience in overseas construction and transportation projects to quickly expand overseas," he said in a statement.

Yoo Seong-min, the ruling party's floor leader, told reporters after a party meeting he believes the government made a "good judgment."

The main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD) also welcomed the government's decision, stressing that South Korea's participation in the AIIB cannot be a trade-off for the deployment of a Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery on South Korean soil.

"I'm concerned that the sudden decision to join the China-led AIIB may be an attempt to establish the deployment of a THAAD system as requested by the U.S. as a fact, and an attempt to strike balance by giving one each to the U.S. and China," Rep. Joo Seung-yong of NPAD said during a party meeting.

hague@yna.co.kr
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