China is likely to raise its concerns over the planned deployment of the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense system to Korea during trilateral talks with Japan and South Korea.

The foreign minister trilateral talks will be held in Tokyo on Wednesday. Japan's Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida will host his Chinese and South Korea counterparts in a dinner on Tuesday night.

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China's foreign ministry said on Monday that foreign ministers from three countries would discuss a host of issues including the planned deployment of the THAAD defense system to Korea as well as North Korea nuclear and missile tests.

"Cooperation among China, Japan and South Korea are significant to the region. We hope the trilateral meeting could help maintain this cooperation and work towards the goal of setting up an economic community by 2020," ministry spokesman Lu Kang said.

Last month, the United States and South Korea announced their decision to deploy the THAAD anti-missile system to Seoul. Washington has been trying to placate Beijing over the deployment. US military chief Mark Milley recently met with senior Chinese military commanders to address their concerns. Besides China, Russia also voiced strong objection to the move.

The talks also come at a time when tensions in East Asia Sea have intensified. China's naval forces last week conducted combat drills in the international waters near the Sea of Japan.

Intrusion of Chinese government vessels into Japan’s territorial waters surrounding the Senkaku Islands https://t.co/q6CVFTxaEn

— MOFA of Japan (@MofaJapan_en) August 23, 2016

 

Tagschina, Japan, South Korea, Tokyo, THAAD, East China Sea