China calls for U-turn over Japan-US missile exercise

Beijing has urged Washington and Tokyo to avoid deploying the "Typhon" intermediate-range missile system in an upcoming joint military exercise.

The Resolute Dragon exercise between the United States and Japan, which is set to run from Sept 11 to Sept 25, will see the temporary deployment of the missile in Japan, Reuters cited Japanese and US officials as saying.

Voicing China's firm opposition to the US deploying the intermediate-range missile system in Asian countries, Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said the system's deployment in Japan will further harm other countries' legitimate security interests and pose a substantial threat to strategic security in the region.

"The US and Japan should respect other countries' security concerns, and must not bring in the 'Typhon' intermediate-range missile system," Guo said on Friday.

Japan's Asian neighbors and the international community always follow closely the military and security moves made by the country, which has a militaristic history of aggression, Guo said.

Noting that this year marks the 80th anniversary of victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931–45) and the World Anti-Fascist War, Guo called on the Japanese side to "reflect deeply on its history of aggression, adhere to a peaceful path, and speak and act with caution in the military and security fields".

Guo also urged the US side to "learn from history and focus its energy and resources on the right path".