'US likely to oppose Park's Beijing visit in September'

By Yi Whan-woo The United States is likely to oppose President Park Geun-hye taking part in China's celebrations to mark the 70th anniversary of Japan's surrender at the end of World War II, according to an analyst, Sunday. "It's possible Washington may take punitive measures if Park takes Chinese President Xi Jinping's offer and joins the celebrations," a Chinese studies scholar said on condition of anonymity. "Washington has great influence on Seoul, especially in their economic and military alliance. And it can use various means to press Korea if its ally becomes uncooperative in its pivot to Asia policy." His comment came after the Tokyo-based media outlet, Kyodo News Agency, reported Sunday that Washington relayed through a diplomatic channel that Park should not attend China's post-war celebrations slated for Sept. 3 in Beijing. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs denied the report, saying "This is nonsense." Park is among a number of heads of states that Xi invited to join the anniversary of the end of WWII and the defeat of Japan, which signed a surrender agreement with the U.S.-led Allies on Sept. 2, 1945. China fought with the Western Allies during the war. And it plans to commemorate the WWII victory on an unprecedented scale this year. The highlight of celebratory events is expected to be a joint military parade involving the Armed forces of China and its allies. However, U.S. President Barack Obama, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and leaders of Western Europe are likely to turn down Xi's invitations amid Washington's concerns over Beijing's growing military spending. It remains to be seen whether North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will accept Xi's offer. Kyodo News Agency said that the U.S. may regard Park's possible presence in Beijing as a sign of a weakened Seoul-Washington alliance and also a risk factor to implement U.S. President Barack Obama's "Pivot to Asia." This is a strategy aimed at enhancing security alliances, expanding trade and investment, and advocating democracy and human rights in the Asia-Pacific region. The Xi government sees it as Washington's policy to contain an emerging China by tightening a three-way security alliance with Seoul and Tokyo. In May, Park declined to accept Russian President Vladimir Putin's offer to join celebrations on the anniversary of the WWII victory over Nazi Germany in the wake of U.S.-led sanctions against Russia for Moscow's annexation of Crimea. South Korea has been under pressure from the U.S. and China over possible deployment of the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system, an U.S. anti-ballistic missile system, on the Korean Peninsula. The U.S. has claimed the primary purpose of THAAD is to better deter North Korea's military attacks. But China has argued THAAD's long-range radar could be used to spy on Beijing's military activities. In March, South Korea decided to join the China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) after mulling over it for months. The U.S. regards the AIIB as a challenge to the Washington and Europe led financial order. yistory@koreatimes.co.kr,