Concerns voiced over missile defense systems

The expansion by the United States of its global missile defense system will damage the strategic balance and potentially spark a new arms race, Chinese and Russian representatives to a disarmament conference in Geneva said at a joint briefing on Tuesday.

Major General Zhang Jian, head of the Combat Bureau of the Joint Staff Department of China's Central Military Commission, said China and Russia would take further measures to protect their national security interests and the regional strategic balance.

Zhang said missile defense systems have a profound impact on the world's strategic balance, stability, peace and security, as well as arms control and disarmament.