China’s Ballistic Missiles Cannot Be Intercepted By US Thaad Defense System, Ex-US Official Says

US Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) like the one deployed in South Korea does not have the ability to intercept Chinese intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), a former US official said.

"THAAD is a theater missile defense capability that does not have the capability of intercepting Chinese ICBMs," former Assistant Secretary of State for Arms Control, Verification and Compliance, Frank Rose, said at a Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) conference Wednesday.

Similar to Russia, China has the capacity to install counter-measures to foil ballistic missile interceptors fired at ICBMs.

The Chinese have very sophisticated counter-measures. “Our limited ground-based interceptor (GBI) system does not have the capability to intercept Chinese ICBMs," he said.

Both the Chinese and the Russians were concerned that the deployment of THAAD systems including advanced radars to South Korea and other countries was a strategy by the US to emphasize their deterrents, Rose said.