Newsweek –
Chinese and Russian officials have warned of a potential arms race breaking out in response to the new missile defense plan introduced by the United States.
President Donald Trump introduced the 2019 Missile Defense Review on Thursday, vowing to instate a global missile shield that could “detect and destroy any missile launched against the United States anywhere, anytime.” His proposals included space-based sensors and advanced interceptors that would block against new cruise and hypersonic missile technology being developed by its top military competitors Russia and China, which have accused the U.S. of attempting to provoke further geopolitical tensions.
“The American report is full of outdated ‘Cold War’ and ‘zero-sum game’ concepts. The document exaggerates the geopolitical confrontation and rivalry of powers, and speaks unreasonably of a threat from China,” a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson told Russia’s state-run Sputnik News, warning that the review could “damage regional peace and security, influence the process of international nuclear disarmament, lead to an arms race, and undermine the strategic balance and stability in the world.”
“China is expressing its extreme discontent and strong objection,” the spokesperson added.
