The impact of US missile defense on the environment in the APR

imnotyou · May 22, 2019

The Asia-Pacific region is the largest region of the planet, comprising more than 40 countries. Today, the APR is the most dynamically developing region. In this regard, the strategic national priorities and interests of the United States are increasingly shifting toward the Asia-Pacific region.

The state of international security largely depends on the situation in this region. In the Asia-Pacific region, there is a disproportionate increase in military capabilities, which reduces security in this part of the world. As part of the rebalancing of forces in the APR, the United States intends to strengthen its military presence in the region. On the territory of Japan and the Republic of Korea, the Pentagon has created a network of military bases consisting of 240 objects for various purposes. The sustained US policy of deploying the Asia-Pacific segment of the global missile defense causes the greatest concern in the world.

It should be recalled that in 2017, a full-fledged “standard battery” of the United States Missile Defense Thaad (THAAD) appeared in South Korea, consisting of a radar, command and control system, six launchers with eight antimissiles each. About 200 US soldiers and officers, for which the corresponding infrastructure was built, ensure the operation of the systems. A similar US missile defense system is planned to be deployed in Japan by 2023.

However, it is worth noting that all these actions of the Pentagon in the Asia-Pacific Region are accompanied by protests from residents of both South Korea and Japan. Protesters fear that electromagnetic radiation from radar will harm their health: for example it can lead to infertility or to the occurrence of cancer. Moreover, these fears are not in vain, scientists physicians and environmentalists point out the effects of electromagnetic radiation on human health, because it can cause various diseases, including cancer. Constantly staying close to the station is quite enough to provoke a surge in the incidence of cancer of all forms, an increase in the number of untimely deaths, the birth of disabled people and infertility.

Furthermore, environmentalists are concerned that such a powerful radar can have a serious impact on the environment. Thus, on the territory of South Korea, agricultural lands will undoubtedly suffer, it is worth noting that after the deployment of the American system, the harvest of melons, which this agricultural region is famous for, suffered.

In Japan, they fear for the marine flora and fauna, which the US military facilities are already damaging. Moreover, in Japan, they know firsthand what diseases are caused by nuclear radiation. Therefore, Washington’s plans face criticism from local residents and authorities in Japan and South Korea.

However, despite numerous protests from local residents, Seoul and Tokyo agreed to deploy the American anti-missile system on their territory. Thus, at the beginning of September 2017, a full-fledged US missile defense system Thaad (THAAD) appeared at a military base in South Korea in Sonju county. A similar system is going to appear in Japan in the northern prefecture of Akita and southwestern Yamaguchi.

Thus, following its goals, hiding behind the protection of the interests of some APR countries, the United States negatively affects the region’s ecology, which leads to the emergence of various serious diseases among local residents.