The United States is attempting to placate China over the deployment of its Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-missile system to South Korea.

U.S. Army Chief Gen. Mark A. Milley met his Chinese counterpart Gen. Li Zuocheng on Tuesday and addressed Beijing's concerns over the deployment of the THAAD system to U.S. forces based in South Korea.

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Milley assured the Chinese military chief that the "decision to deploy a Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system is a defensive measure to protect South Koreans and Americans from the North Korean ballistic missile threat, not a threat in any way to China," a statement from U.S. Army said.

The U.S. general also pledged to keep open channels of communications between the armies of both countries to reduce the risk of crisis and miscalculation.

China and Russia have repeatedly strong objection to the THAAD deployment in South Korea. Last month, the U.S. and South Korea announced their decision to deploy the advanced anti-missile defense system to a U.S. military base in South Korea.

Milley's visit to China also comes at a time when tension between Beijing and neighbors is running high after a United Nations-backed court's pronounced a verdict on the South China Sea dispute. The Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration, in its long pending ruling on July 12, rejected China's territorial claims in the disputed South China Sea saying that it has no legal basis.

The United States has urged China to abide by the court's ruling. However, China has strongly opposed the verdict and has vowed to defend its position in the South China Sea.

TagsUS, china, PLA, THAAD, South Korea