China slams US commander’s ‘dagger’ label for South Korea

AdvertisementUS-China relationsChinaDiplomacyChina slams US commander’s ‘dagger’ label for South Korea

Chinese embassy in Seoul says US Forces Korea commander Xavier Brunson’s ‘hostile and aggressive remarks’ on podcast ‘crossed the line’

3-MIN READ3-MIN7 Listen

Victoria BelaPublished: 7:43pm, 28 May 2026Updated: 8:44pm, 28 May 2026China has criticised the commander of the US Forces Korea (USFK) after he described South Korea as a “dagger” and Japan as a “shield” in countering China’s growing regional influence.

This comes as Washington seeks to expand the scope of its South Korea-based command for a greater presence across the Indo-Pacific in what Beijing views as an effort to contain it.

During a podcast interview hosted by the US Army War College on May 22, USFK Commander Xavier Brunson said that when looking from the east coast of China, South Korea was “the dagger in the heart of Asia”. South Korean president admits Seoul cannot stop US from moving military assets

He also described Japan as a “shield” or “backstop” for China’s ambitions in the South China Sea, according to an interview transcript.

Advertisement

It follows Brunson’s depiction of South Korea as looking like a “fixed aircraft carrier” between Japan and China while speaking at a forum in Hawaii in May last year, according to a report by Korea JoongAng Daily.

The Chinese embassy in South Korea said on Thursday it wanted to “solemnly warn” Brunson that his remarks had crossed the line, according to the mission’s social media account.

Advertisement

“Are your hostile and aggressive remarks about China authorised by Washington, or are you trying to challenge the consensus reached at the Beijing meeting between the Chinese and US leaders?” a representative for the embassy was quoted as saying.

“You refer to the host country as an ‘aircraft carrier’ or a ‘dagger’. Does this demonstrate your belligerence, or do you intend to use other countries as pawns?”

AdvertisementSelect VoiceSelect Speed0.8x0.9x1.0x1.1x1.2x1.5x1.75x00:0000:001.00x