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FILE PHOTO: Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian attends a news conference in Beijing on Apr 8, 2020. (Reuters/Carlos Garcia Rawlins)

China says opposes US THAAD defence system in South Korea

BEIJING: China's foreign ministry said on Friday (May 29) it firmly opposes the US Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) missile defence system in South Korea and urged the US not to harm bilateral relations between Beijing and Seoul.

American and South Korean troops brought replacement THAAD missiles to a base in South Korea overnight, Yonhap news agency reported, citing unnamed officials who described it as a routine resupply operation.

The missiles were to replace older ones and the number of weapons at the base did not increase, the report said.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told reporters during a daily briefing that Beijing and Seoul have reached a clear consensus on a phased resolution to the THAAD issue and said China hopes Seoul will adhere to that agreement.

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