The Chinese Embassy in Seoul has warned that remarks by U.S. Forces Korea Commander Gen. Xavier Brunson, who likened South Korea to a "dagger pointed at China," revealed "extreme hostility and aggression toward China" and "clearly crossed the line."
In a commentary issued under the name of its spokesperson on Friday, the embassy asked, "Do you not want a stable China-U.S. and China-Korea relationship?"
According to the U.S. Army War College, Gen. Brunson said on the school's podcast on the 22nd of this month, "When China looks out from its eastern coast, there is Korea, a dagger at the heart of Asia, and Japan, a kind of shield and a wall defending against ambitions reaching beyond the South China Sea."
The term "dagger" reflects the strategic value that South Korea holds from the U.S. perspective. Washington has cited countering China as a core security priority, making South Korea a key allied nation positioned on the front line of efforts to check Beijing. In May last year, Gen. Brunson also described South Korea's geographical location as strategically important, comparing it to "an island floating between Japan and the Chinese mainland, or a fixed aircraft carrier."
The embassy also pointed to the possibility that Gen. Brunson's remarks contradict the policy direction set by President Donald Trump. "Not long ago, U.S. President Donald Trump visited China and confirmed a shared understanding on building a constructive and strategically stable China-U.S. relationship," the embassy said. "It is questionable whether the remarks were authorized by Washington, or whether they are intended to challenge the common understanding reached between the leaders of China and the United States." The embassy stressed, "We hope the U.S. Forces Korea commander will contribute to peace and stability among countries in the region."
