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| Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) |
The possible US deployment of a missile defence system on the Korean peninsula in response to Pyongyang's ballistic missile programme would threaten China's strategic interests, Beijing said on Monday.
Washington and Seoul will begin talks about the Terminal High Altitude Area Defence System (THAAD), they said a week ago following a surprise nuclear test and satellite launch by the hermit kingdom that raised fresh concerns about its weapons ambitions.
"We are firmly opposed to the relevant country's attempts to damage China's strategic and security interests, with the nuclear issue as an excuse," foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei told a regular briefing.
China was "seriously concerned about the possible deployment of the THAAD system", he added, saying it "covers a range that is far beyond the needs of defence of the Korean peninsula".
Beijing argues that the THAAD deployment would trigger an arms race in the region.
Read the full story at SpaceDaily