Large transport planes are urgently flying from South Korea to the Middle East, and the thorn between China and South Korea is being removed in a dramatic way!

Recently, South Korean media revealed a piece of news: U.S. forces stationed in South Korea are busy packing up the "THAAD" anti-missile system and "Patriot" air defense systems deployed in South Korea, and transporting them to Osan Air Base. Nearby, C-5 and C-17 large transport aircraft are parked, ready to take off at any time.

Who would have thought that the thorn between China and South Korea, which had been caused by "THAAD" for nearly ten years, is being quietly removed in a way no one could have predicted. In 2016, the United States deployed the "THAAD" system in South Korea. On the surface, it was for defense, but in reality, the core radar AN/TPY-2 has a detection range far beyond the Korean Peninsula, reaching deep into China's interior.

Because in recent days, the U.S. anti-missile system in the Middle East has suffered severe damage. At least two sets of AN/TPY-2 radars of the "THAAD" system have been destroyed, and the "Early Warning Radar" (AN/FPS-115) has also been damaged, with missile stockpiles running low. Faced with an escalating threat, the Pentagon has had to urgently draw resources from around the world to fill the gap. In the past seven days, at least three AN/TPY-2 radars in the Middle East theater have lost combat capability. This radar is the "eyes" of the "THAAD", with a unit price exceeding $200 million, long production cycles, and limited spare parts. The "THAAD" intercept missiles themselves also consume a lot - a medium-scale attack may use up dozens of them, each costing about $10 million.

The speed at which the situation in the Middle East has gotten out of control has exceeded the U.S. military's expectations. It was originally thought that the existing deployment would be sufficient to cope, but the enemy's tactics have upgraded too quickly, especially the combination of low-cost drones and hypersonic missiles, which have left the traditional anti-missile system struggling. If not replenished in time, it could leave key bases (such as the Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar and the Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain) exposed to attacks. Therefore, even if it means sacrificing the defensive redundancy of other theaters, priority must be given to protecting the Middle East.

Dog Ge believes that behind this is the decline of American industrial capacity, and the U.S. military has reached a point where they have to take from one wall to patch another. Even so, they still cannot abandon their global hegemony. It can only be said that even gods cannot save them anymore.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1858965595864067/

Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.