Why Does China Hate THAAD So Much?

THAAD is a useful acronym to know if you’re interested in the geopolitical tensions in East Asia. The deployment of the U.S.’s Terminal High Altitude Air Defense (THAAD) system in South Korea caused a sudden transformation of Korea’s relationship with China, its neighbor and number one trading partner. Before the deployment decision was announced in July 2016, relations were blossoming between Seoul and Beijing. South Korean cultural products like television shows and music were hugely popular