China has criticized the commander of US Forces Korea for describing South Korea as a 'dagger' and Japan as a 'shield' in the context of countering China's influence. Beijing views the US strategy as an attempt to contain its regional presence.

China has criticised the commander of the US Forces Korea (USFK) who has described South Korea as a “dagger” and Japan as a “shield” in countering China’s growing regional influence. It 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...