China says it won’t sit back if US deploys intermediate range missiles in Asia
- Defence ministry urges Washington to act cautiously as US insists it is not trying to dominate Asia-Pacific
- Beijing accuses US of trying to gain military advantage by pulling out of Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty
China will not take a “laissez-faire” approach if the US deploys intermediate range missiles in Asia-Pacific, the Chinese defence ministry said on Thursday.
The ministry spokesman Wu Qian expressed China’s “resolute opposition” to such plan and urged Washington to take a responsible attitude and act with caution, to “avoid wrongdoing”.
“If the US forces its way through, it would severely sabotage regional countries’ security interests and harm peace and stability,” Wu told a regular press conference.
Wu accused the US of attempting to gain unilateral military advantages by quitting the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty.
“The US withdrawal from the INF Treaty is yet more evidence it is pursuing unilateralism and shirking international responsibilities, which has direct negative impact on global strategic balance and stability, regional peace and security as well as international arms control systems,” he said.
The US is continuing to develop security ties in Southeast Asia but a senior American diplomat insisted on Thursday that it was not seeking to dominate the region.