Chinese armchair generals claim there are ways China can easily defeat -- even in peacetime -- the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Air Defense (THAAD) air defense system to be emplaced in South Korea a few months from now.

One of these weekend experts said China can blind THAAD's radars system, a feat which is quite easy, claims Song Zhongping, a retired officer who used to serve in the People's Liberation Army Rocket Force (PLARF).

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"In peacetime, China also has measures to counter the THAAD system, for instance, making it 'blind,' which is very easy. The PLA is entirely capable of doing that," claims Song.

"Making it 'blind' is a choice, but it will require damaging or even destroying THAAD's radar system. So this is a 'hard measure,' normally implemented by a directed-energy weapon or laser weapon.

"Apart from this, we can also make THAAD useless through electronic interference and feigned military activities, because such activities can interrupt the functioning of the THAAD system," said Song.

Song, however, said China won't attack THAAD in peacetime. Despite this, China has various measures to destroy THAAD in the event of a war on the Korean Peninsula, so it will not pose a threat to China during the war.

The main threat posed by THAAD is its X-band radar that can monitor China's military deployments and missile-launches, which will seriously undermine China's nuclear deterrent, according to Song.

Another pundit claims that since Russia also faces a THAAD threat on both its eastern and western borders in Europe, China and Russia should work together to counter THAAD.

The possibility still exists of forcing South Korea to abandon THAAD, said Xu Guangyu, a retired PLA major general and a senior advisor of the China Arms Control and Disarmament Association.

"South Korea is fully aware of our capability, so we don't need to conduct extra military actions or movements to display our muscle at this moment," said Xu.

TagsTerminal High Altitude Air Defense, THAAD, china, People's Liberation Army Rocket Force