China urges US, Japan to withdraw Typhon missile system from region

By Saadet Gokce

ISTANBUL (AA) - China on Friday urged the US and Japan to remove the Typhon missile system from the region, following its recent deployment to a US military base in western Japan for joint exercises.

"The US and Japan need to earnestly respect other countries' security concerns and play a positive role for regional peace and stability with concrete actions, not the other way around," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said during a news conference in Beijing.

China's reaction follows the US deploying its Mid-Range Capability missile system, which can fire Tomahawk cruise missiles, to the Marine Corps Air Station in Iwakuni, located in Yamaguchi province.

Beijing urged Washington and Tokyo to "heed the call from regional countries, correct the wrong move and pull out the system as soon as possible. Due to its history of militarist aggression, Japan's military and security moves always draw close attention from its Asian neighbors and the international community," Lin said.

The system will be debuted at the two-week-long annual bilateral Resolute Dragon military drill between the US and Japan, which started Sept. 11.

Japan, a long-standing ally of the US in the Asia-Pacific since World War II, has significantly ramped up its defense capabilities in recent years in response to China’s growing military presence and regional influence.

The country also hosts thousands of American soldiers in addition to military bases and weaponry.