China and Russia close ranks against US missile-defence system
Military officials from Moscow and Beijing use security forum to condemn plans by Washington to deploy systems in Asia and Europe
Chinese and Russian defence officials on Tuesday blasted Washington’s plans to deploy a missile defence system, saying it would prompt a new arms race.
The officials said Beijing and Moscow would conduct another joint computer-simulated missile-defence exercise next year in response to proposed US deployments in Northeast Asia and Europe. The two countries held their first such drill in May.
Chinese deputy chief of the Joint Staff Department, Admiral Sun Jianguo, and Russian Deputy Defence Minister Anatoly Antonov spoke to the media on the sidelines of the Xiangshan Forum in Beijing. It is China’s alternative to the annual Asian Security Summit, or Shangri-La Dialogue, in Singapore.
Senior officers from both countries used the press conference to argue that Beijing and Moscow would be harmed by the American defence systems in Europe and Asia.
Major General Cai Jun criticised plans by Washington and Seoul to deploy the Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) system in South Korea.