The main opposition Democratic United Party has again put the brakes on the construction of a naval base on Jeju Island. The party has refused to pass a bill allocating 200 billion won for the project next year through the National Defense Committee of the National Assembly. It demanded that the entire budget be axed.

Behind the party’s nonsensical move was its presidential candidate Moon Jae-in. A week ago, he visited Jeju and told opponents to the project that if elected president, he would halt the construction of the base and have the project reviewed from scratch in accordance with democratic procedures.

Moon’s remark was perplexing because he said in July that the naval base “is necessary in the best interests of national security.” He changed his stance to cater to a group of Jeju villagers determined to stop the important national project.

The naval base plan was finalized by the Roh Moo-hyun government in 2007 based on Jeju villagers’ opinions. Roh dismissed opposition to the scheme, saying that it was essential to safeguarding national security. At the time Moon served as chief of staff to the president.

The construction of the base started in 2010 and is scheduled to be completed in 2015. Out of the total project cost of 970 billion won, some 230 billion won has already been invested. Thus it does not make sense to suspend the project at this stage.

Due to protests by some of the Jeju villagers and people whose profession is to protest against the government, the project has already suffered long delays. Given its growing strategic importance, however, construction should not be interrupted any more.

During his recent visit to the inter-Korea Transit Office in Gangwon Province, Moon claimed to be the “best among the presidential candidates in terms of safeguarding national security.” But his opposition to the Jeju naval base discredits his claim.

Moon should realize that the naval base has gained a far greater strategic importance than was first conceived under the Roh administration.

In recent years, neighboring countries have stepped up efforts to strengthen their naval forces as maritime territorial disputes increased. Especially, China’s new leadership is expected to accelerate a drive to build up its military, especially its navy. Japan has not been sitting idle, either.

The naval base in Jeju is essential to protecting Korea’s sovereignty over Dokdo and its jurisdiction over Ieodo, an underwater rock located in Korea’s exclusive economic zone southwest of Jeju Island.