China Unhappy

For John, BLUF:  This is a delicate issue, and North Korea and China, which will do nothing concrete, are implacable.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Exclusive:  Chinese women golfers may shun LPGA event amid China-South Korea tensions

From Reuters and Mr Peter Rutherford, reporting from Seoul, today.

Chinese golfers on the U.S. women's tour may decide not to play in a tournament next month in Hawaii sponsored by South Korean conglomerate Lotte Group, a sign that fallout from a diplomatic row between Beijing and Seoul over a missile defense system is increasingly spilling into the sports world.

Rio Olympics bronze medalist Shanshan Feng decided not to play after she and three other Chinese players - Simin Feng, Jing Yan and Xiyu Lin - were informed it was in their best interests not to take part in the event due to its association with Lotte, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.

This is a sign that China is unhappy with our deployment of the THAAD missile defense system, to protect South Korea from the nuclear missile armed North Korea.  Of course it is better than an alternative that involveS a nuclear armed South Korea.

In this area I think SecState Tillison and President Trump are effectively threading the needle.

Hat tip to Zero Hedge.

Regards  —  Cliff