China, Russia oppose proposed US missile shields

"The American plan is a source of enormous concern".

China and Russia believe the "nature of NMD is to seek unilateral military and security advantages" which will pose the most grave adverse consequences not only to the National security of Russia, China and other countries, but also to the security and international strategic stability of the US itself," the statement said.

China and Russia are "firmly opposed to such a system", it said.

The two sides stated that the 1972 Anti-ballistic Missile (ABM) treaty remained the cornerstone of global strategic stability and international security.

"It forms the basis of key international agreements on reduction and limitation of offensive strategic weaponry and prevention of proliferation of massive destructive weaponry".

"It is of vital importance to maintain and strictly observe the ABM treaty," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhu Bangzao told reporters while commenting on the statement.

Quoting the statement, Zhu said the US proposal to establish NMD has made the people of the two countries "deeply worried."

China and Russia are deeply concerned that "a certain country in the Asia-Pacific region might deploy such non-strategic missile defence system" and steadfastly opposed this, the joint statement said, referring to the US-Japan plans to deploy a TMD system in East Asia.

A non-strategic missile defence programme and global cooperation in such areas, which is not prohibited by ABM, should not undermine security interests of other countries or lead to the establishment of a closed military or political bloc or threaten global and regional stability, it said.

"The incorporation of Taiwan into any foreign missile defence system is unacceptable and will seriously undermine regional stability," the statement said.

Beijing, which views Taiwan as a rebel province, fears that the proposed TMD umbrella to the island would thwart China’s reunification agenda.

The two sides maintained that while Russia and the US continue to reduce offensive strategic weaponry on the basis of ABM, other countries with nuclear capabilities should be included in the process at the "appropriate time".

In the statement, the two countries vowed to intensify cooperation in maintaining global strategic balance and stability.