Planned US Missile Defense Units in Asia-Pacific Threaten China, Russia

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The planned deployment of units of the US missile defense system in the Asia-Pacific region poses a threat to China and Russia and undermines global security, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov said.

"The point is that if this small element becomes a part of a missile defense system across the world, then, of course, it will strike down and undermine the system of global security. In fact, it strikes down or even nullifies China's nuclear deterrent force and causes damage to strategic stability, including of the Russian Federation," Antonov told the CCTV broadcaster and the Xinhua news agency in an interview.

According to the deputy minister, Russia also takes a negative view of the fact that the United States uses its military ties with a number of states to establish a missile system on their territory.

"There are not only zero differences between China and Russia, both permanent members of the UN Security Council, but there is a common position to strengthen regional peace and international security. China and Russia are not cooperating against someone in the military sphere. Our cooperation is aimed at strengthening the security of our countries, including with regard to the international obligations of China and the Russian Federation," Antonov said.

The United States has continued to expand its ballistic missile defense systems over the past year. In Europe, the United States recently installed such systems in Romania and plans to do the same in Poland in 2018.

Russia has continuously called on the international community to address the global expansion of the US missile defense shield.