China and Russia will conduct their first
joint computer-assisted anti-missile drill later this month, state media
reported Thursday, citing officials. The move comes as the United
States and South Korea mull the deployment of Terminal High Altitude
Area Defense (THAAD) missile system in the Korean Peninsula to counter
threats from North Korea, which has increased its nuclear ambitions.
The defense ministries of China and Russia
announced late Tuesday that the drill will be held later this month at a
Russian defense forces research center, the official English-language China Daily
newspaper reported. While the two countries mentioned that the exercise
“does not target any third party” analysts told the newspaper that
Beijing and Moscow face challenges over Washington’s potential
deployment of THAAD.
Experts further told China Daily that the
drill would help the militaries of the two countries learn about their
respective command structures and data transmission processes.
China and Russia
have repeatedly voiced their opposition to the deployment of the
missile system. Last month, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov
expressed concern over the possible move, saying that it will cause a
“real threat to the security of our countries.”
North Korea has carried out several missile
and nuclear tests, sending its neighbor South Korea into a state of
frenzy. Seoul, which had earlier steered clear of THAAD missile
deployment because of strong trade relations with Beijing, sought
Washington’s help to deter Pyongyang’s nuclear activities. The two
countries formally began talks over the possible deployment of THAAD
missile system in April.
China has maintained that the THAAD missile
system could be used to monitor its missile launches as far inland as
Xian in the northwest. THAAD can reportedly shoot down short-, medium-
and immediate-range ballistic missiles.
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