China, Russia to hold missile defence drills, amid opposition to US plans to deploy missile shield in South Korea
Moscow and Beijing say exercises not focused on a third party, but analysts believe the drills are clearly aimed at deterring the US deployment of the missile system
China and Russia will hold their first computer-simulated missile defence exercises this month.
Analysts said the move was a response to US proposals to deploy an anti-missile shield on the Korean peninsula, which China and Russia strongly oppose.
Beijing and Moscow say the plans to set up the Terminal High Altitude Area Defence system, or THAAD, in South Korea pose a threat to their security.
The decision to hold the missile defence exercises in Russia was announced by both nations’ defence ministries.
The drills would use “the combined operations of Russian and Chinese air and missile defence task forces” to provide protection “from sudden or provocative ballistic or cruise missile attacks”, the Russian ministry said.
‘US shouldn’t use North Korea’s actions as an excuse’: China, Russia raise concerns over US missile defence plans
China and Russia said the drills did not target a third party, but analysts said they were clearly aimed at deterring the United States from deploying the missile system in South Korea.